Proteus

This article is about Proteus from the Greek mythology. For other meanings of the word, see proteus (disambiguation).

• Deities of Greek Mythology
  Primordial deities *Titans *Olympians *Sea gods	*Chthonic deities *Personified concepts *Others
  Aquatic deities:
  *Poseidon *Oceanus *Ceto *Nereus *Glaucus *Thetis *Amphitrite *Tethys	*Triton *Proteus *Phorcys *Pontus *Oceanids *Nereids *Naiads

In Greek mythology, Proteus is a lesser sea-god, the son of Poseidon or Oceanus and a Naiad, and the herdsman of Poseidon's seals. He can foretell the future, but will change his shape to avoid having to; he will only answer to someone who is capable of capturing him. From this Proteus comes the adjective protean, with the general meaning of "versatile", "mutable", "capable of assuming many forms", etc..

The myth of Proteus

According to Homer (Odyssey 4:412), the lighthouse island of Pharos situated at Alexandria on the Nile Delta was the home of Proteus, the oracular Old Man of the Sea and herdsman of Poseidon's sea-beasts.

In the Odyssey, Menelaus relates to Telemachus that he had been becalmed here on his journey home from the Trojan War. He learned from Proteus' daughter that if he could capture her father he could force him to reveal which of the gods he had offended, and hos he could propitiate them and return home. Menelaus did so successfully. Proteus further informed him that his brother Agamemnon had been murdered on his return home, that Ajax the Lesser had been shipwrecked and killed, and that Odysseus was stranded on Calypso's Isle.

Another story tells that at one time the bees of Aristaeus [?], son of Apollo, all died of a disease. Aristaeus went to his mother, Cyrene, for help; she told him that Proteus could tell him how to prevent another such disaster, but would do so only if compelled. Aristeus had to seize Proteus and hold him, no matter what he would change into. Aristeus did so, and Proteus eventually gave up and told him to sacrifice 12 animals to the gods, leave the corpses in the place of sacrifice, and return three days later. When Aristaeus returned after the three days he found in one of the carcasses a swarm of bees, which he took to his apiary. The bees were never again troubled by disease.

The children of Proteus include Eido and Theoklymenos with Psamathe, Polygonos and Telegonos (both killed by Hercules), and Eidothea.