The Auenis
by Douglas Bishop
My research into the pan flute's history sometimes leads to unexpected discoveries. It is known the Romans borrowed much of what became known as Roman culture from peoples whom they conquered. When Rome conquered Greece, they also adopted the Greek pan flute (syrinx). However, I became curious as to whether the Romans also adopted the Greek name for their pan flute form (syrinx), or had created their own name. I decided to search through some early Roman literary works, and in book 5, chapter 10, line 25 of Ovid's "Tristia", written during the reign of Ceasar Augustus, this is what I found:
"Sub galea pastor iunctis pice cantat auenis"

auenis (ow-in-is): reed, shepherd's pipe, pan pipe.
Source: Words by William Whitaker / Latin Dictionary

I had stumbled on the lost Roman name for the pan flute! Ovid was one of Rome's most prominent literary figures, and he wrote "Tristia" during the Roman Empire's golden age, the "Pax Romana" (27 B.C.E. - 180 C.E.). There could be little doubt this was indeed the name understood by Romans to signify the pan flute.