In Philip Pullman’s young-adult novel The Golden Compass, Lyra Belacqua’s dæmon is named Pantalaimon.
Pantalaimon, usually called Pan, is a shape-changing animal companion who remains close to Lyra throughout her childhood. In Pullman’s world, human dæmons embody an external part of a person’s inner self. A child’s dæmon can change form, while an adult’s dæmon settles into a permanent shape.
The Golden Compass is the North American title of Northern Lights, the first novel in Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy. Lyra and Pan travel from Jordan College into the far north while investigating the disappearance of children and the mysterious substance called Dust.
The name Pantalaimon comes from Greek and is associated with Saint Panteleimon. The 2007 film used the title The Golden Compass worldwide, while the original British book title remains Northern Lights.