Bird Gods in Ancient Europe 



But we find Pan more clearly in a reputed 

 son of Apollo, the sweet singer Orpheus. If 

 we want to make a reasonable guess at the god- 

 lore taught to the intrusive Greeks by the sub- 

 ject Paiones, let us look at the doings and 

 beings of Orpheus. And then we find a bright 

 side-light thrown by Vaino of the Finns, whose 

 exploits were, in many ways, singularly like his. 

 Vaino and Orpheus had the same mysterious 

 birth ; both were teachers of the people and 

 founders of states. Both were charmers of 

 men and maids with music and song, nay, the 

 birds and beasts and inanimate objects — 



All the beasts that haunt the woodland 

 Fall upon their knees and wonder 

 At the playing of the minstrel. 

 At his miracles of concord. 

 All the songsters of the forests 

 Perch upon the trembling branches. 

 Singing to the wondrous playing 

 Of the harp of Wainamoinen. 

 All the dwellers of the waters 

 Leave their beds and caves and grottoes, 

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