About the 4th century BCE, the paean became merely a formula of adulation; its object was either to implore protection against disease and misfortune or to offer thanks after such protection had been rendered.
ɐbˌaʊt ðə fˈoːɹθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi bˌiːsˌiːˈiː, ðə pˈiːən bɪkˌeɪm mˈɪɹli ɐ fˈɔːɹmjʊlə ʌv ˌædʒəlˈeɪʃən; ɪts ˈɑːbdʒɛkt wʌz ˈiːðɚ tʊ ɪmplˈoːɹ pɹətˈɛkʃən ɐɡˈɛnst dɪzˈiːz ænd mɪsfˈɔːɹtʃʊn ɔːɹ tʊ ˈɔfɚ θˈæŋks ˈæftɚ sˈʌtʃ pɹətˈɛkʃən hɐdbɪn ɹˈɛndɚd.