What’s in the name?
First and foremost, the name Proteus is derived from the Greek word protos, meaning literally “primordial” or “firstborn”. Though it is unclear why there is a such a notion behind the name of the master shape-shifting god, some claim it is because Proteus was believed to have been the firstborn son of Poseidon, the sea god.
Who was Proteus?
Among the ranks of the most versatile and cunning of the Greek gods is the prophet Proteus, one of the earliest gods appearing in Greek mythology, who is said to have lived on the island of Pharos, in modern day Egypt, near the mouth of the Nile River, shepherding the seals of the sea. Though accounts diverge in terms of his heritage, with some claiming he was the son of the sea god Poseidon and others affirming that he was merely a sub-leader to that famous god, it is evident that he was known for his exceptionally diverse range of forms into which he was able to shapeshift – anything ranging from a snake, a lion, a panther, a boar… These rapid transformations he carried out were not merely for entertainment purposes; they were in fact a means for Proteus to escape from divulging the truths that he possessed the knowledge of spanning across all of time itself – past, present and future. For such knowledge was widely desired by rulers and merchants alike, and it was therefore a burden to be constantly pestered. He is not the only god who possesses such powers, however, as it was common in Greek (as well as Roman) mythology for gods to shapeshift, usually to seduce mortals (for example in the story of Leda and the swan, one which Zeus, the father of the gods, turns into a swan to carry out his) some gods could even transform mortals into other creatures as a form of punishment.
And now for a quick story…
Though his shape-shifting allowed Proteus to avoid certain situations, there were some who were able to overcome his godly powers and obtain the knowledge that they sought for. The most famous example, found in Homer’s “the Odyssey”, is that of Telemachus, son of the renowned Greek hero Odysseus, who journeys to the King of Sparta, Menelaus, to seek information about his father. Menelaus then proceeds to tell the young Telemachus about his own misfortunes on his travels across the ocean returning from the Trojan War. In his story he mentions the goddess Eidothea who directed him to her father, Proteus, to discover the answers to his inquiries. Ultimately it was she who led Menelaus to succeed as she advised him to hold on steadfast until devious Proteus resumed his natural form. And the result? Menelaus certainly got what he wanted – including the surprising news that Odysseus was still alive.
What does Proteus have to do with me?
Although Proteus may seem like a fanciful character from a faraway Classical civilisation, He has had a lasting impact on the English language. For example, the word Protean is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as ‘tending or able to change frequently or easily’. Shakespeare also borrowed the character of Proteus in the 15th century for his play The Two Gentleman of Verona in which proteus is portrayed as a man fickle with his romantic relationships. A certain species of bacteria also carries on his legacy – the bacterium proteus mirabilis, a bacterium with some astonishing abilities, including the ability to change shape and secrete a sticky substance that permits it to move across surfaces. The word mirabilis is defined as strange or wonderful in Latin, reflecting some of the bacterium’s astonishing abilities.
~Jiatan
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