The Return of the Horned God - Ronald Hutton

Video Description

00:00 // Introduction 00:34 // Pagan Gods in Ancient and Medieval Europe 01:07 // The Romantic Movement and Changing Views on Nature 04:33 // Pan’s Rise in Popularity 08:19 // Pan as the Protector of Nature 10:41 // Pan and Religion: A Rival to Christianity 14:53 // Pan as a Symbol of Rebellion 25:22 // Pan and Sexuality 35:34 // Pan’s Evolution into the Horned God 36:36 // The Modern Pagan Revival 40:48 // Conclusion: A Cultural or Divine Figure? Watch the Q&A session here: https://youtu.be/IAilwM_WdbI Until the nineteenth century, the favourite ancient pagan gods in Western culture were those related to human qualities and activities. During that century, especially in Britain, attention switched to a horned divinity associated with the countryside and wild nature, usually personified as the Greek Pan. This lecture explores how and why this happened, and the impact on British culture, when the full subversive potential of this deity as a force for personal liberation became realised. It also shows how the image subsequently evolved from a classical god into an archetype. This lecture was recorded by Ronald Hutton on 19th February 2025 at Barnard's Inn Hall, London. Ronald is the Gresham Professor of Divinity. He is also Professor of History at the University of Bristol and a Fellow of the British Academy, the Royal Historical Society, the Society of Antiquaries and the Learned Society of Wales. The transcript of the lecture is available from the Gresham College website: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/return-horned-god Gresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/get-involved/support-us/make-donation/donate-today Website: https://gresham.ac.uk Twitter: https://twitter.com/greshamcollege Facebook: https://facebook.com/greshamcollege Instagram: https://instagram.com/greshamcollege Support Us: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/get-involved/support-us/make-donation/donate-today