Section: NATURA (Nature). View all emblems in this section.
Link to an image of this page [G5v p106]
Vis naturae.[1]
The power of nature
Pana colunt gentes, (naturam hoc dicere rerum est)
Semicaprumque hominem, semivirumque Deum.
Est vir pube tenus, quòd nobis insita virtus[2]
Corde oriens, celsa verticis arce sedet.
Hinc caper est, quia nos natura in secla propagat
Concubitu: ut volucres, squamea, bruta, feras.
Quod commune aliis animantibus, est caper index
Luxuriae, Veneris signaque aperta gerit.
Cordi alii sophian, alii tribuêre cerebro.
Inferiora modus, nec ratio ulla tenet.
Pagans worship Pan, that is the force of nature, a man half-goat, a god half-man. Pan is a man down to the loins, because that power that is naturally present in us men rises from the heart and has its seat in the high citadel of the head. Below this he is goat, because Nature perpetuates us down the ages by sexual intercourse, as she does birds, fish, brute beasts and wild. This is a thing shared with other living creatures. The goat is a sign of licentiousness, and carries Venus’ standards unconcealed. Wisdom some have assigned to the heart, others to the head. The lower parts neither restraint nor reason governs.
Related Emblems
Show related emblemsHint: You can set whether related emblems are displayed by default on the preferences page
Iconclass Keywords
Relating to the image:
- 'Natura' (allegorical figure or scene; or as Diana of Ephesus, with many breasts); 'Natura' (Ripa) [20] Search | Browse Iconclass
- groups of birds (+ flying animal(s)) [25F31(+5262)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- trees [25G3] Search | Browse Iconclass
- (high) hill [25H113] Search | Browse Iconclass
- landscape with ruins [25I9] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clouds [26A] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Human Being, Man in General [30] Search | Browse Iconclass
- chest, bust (+ nude human being) [31A222(+89)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- looking over the shoulder [31A247] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched forward [31A2512] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm bent behind the back [31A25171] Search | Browse Iconclass
- standing on one leg, the other leg held sideways [31A2624] Search | Browse Iconclass
- monsters ~ domestic animals [31A4521] Search | Browse Iconclass
- beard [31A534] Search | Browse Iconclass
- festivities (+ wreath, garland ~ festive activities) [43A(+12)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- goat (+ antlers; horn) [47I214(+9332)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- goat (+ limbs of an animal) [47I214(+934)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- (story of) Pan [92L5] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- Prudence, 'Prudentia'; 'Prudenza' (Ripa) ~ one of the Four Cardinal Virtues [11M41] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Licentiousness, Lasciviousness; 'Lascivia', 'Licenza' (Ripa) [57AA51] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Instinct, Natural Disposition; 'Instinto naturale' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [58B6(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
Hint: You can turn translations and name underlining on or off using the preferences page.
