Lord Byron

Canto First
I.
The Gods of old are silent on their shore,
Since the great Pan expired, and through the roar
Of the Ionian waters broke a dread
Voice which proclaimed "the Mighty Pan is dead."
How much died with him ! false or true --- the dream
Was beautiful which peopled every stream
With more than finny tenants, and adorned
The woods and waters with coy nymphs that scorned
Pursuing Deities, or in the embrace
Of gods brought forth the high heroic race
Whose names are on the hills and o'er the seas.


This is an image of Aristomenes, courtesy of Life Magazine. In the image, Aristomenes fights his way out of siege in Eira, Messania during the Second Messenian War.

Thanks to Encyclopedia Brittanica, we know that Aristomenes was the "traditional hero of an unsuccessful revolt against the Spartans by the Messenians, who had been enslaved by Sparta in the 8th century bc. Although Aristomenes is probably a historical figure, his career has been heavily overlaid with legend; the standard version makes him a leader of a rebellion about 650 bc—the so-called Second Messenian War. After several victories he was betrayed by King Aristocrates of Arcadia at the battle of “the Great Trench.” For about 11 years he was besieged in Eira, Messenia. When the Spartans finally conquered that stronghold, Aristomenes escaped to live in exile on the island of Rhodes."