who was proteus in the odyssey

Who is Proteus of Egypt in the Odyssey?

In the Odyssey (iv.430ff) Menelaus wrestles with "Proteus of Egypt, the immortal old man of the sea who never lies, who sounds the deep in all its depths, Poseidon's servant" ( Robert Fagles 's translation). Proteus of Egypt is mentioned in an alternative version of the story of Helen of Troy in the tragedy Helen of Euripides (produced in 412 BC).

How is Proteus’s daughter presented in the Odyssey?

Proteus’s daughter Eidothea is presented as something of a shape-shifter herself. She transfers her allegiance from her father, Proteus, to the stranger Menelaus, whose potential role as her lover casts her choice to help him in a sexual light.

Who is Proteus in the story of Helen of Troy?

Herodotus invoked Proteus in his telling of the story of Helen of Troy. In Book II of The History, the story is told of how Proteus rose to the throne of Egypt out of Memphis, succeeding Pheron as king. He was later succeeded by Rhampsinitus ( Ramesses III, as he was known by the Egyptians ).

How did Proteus appear to Menelaus?

Proteus emerged from the sea to sleep among his colony of seals, but Menelaus was successful in holding him, though Proteus took the forms of a lion, a serpent, a leopard, a pig, even of water or a tree.

Who was Proteus?

Proteus, in Greek mythology, the prophetic old man of the sea and shepherd of the sea's flocks (e.g., seals). He was subject to the sea god Poseidon, and his dwelling place was either the island of Pharos, near the mouth of the Nile River, or the island of Carpathus, between Crete and Rhodes.

Why is Proteus important in the Odyssey?

In summary, Proteus in The Odyssey is portrayed as a man who never lies and is the holder of knowledge. Despite being known to be the man who never lies, he disguises himself to prevent mortals from bothering him. The knowledge he holds is only for those who can capture him long enough for him to shed some wisdom.

What was Proteus known for?

Proteus was a primordial deity in Greek mythology, protector of the seas, rivers and other bodies of water. He was one of the figures that Homer called Old Man of the Sea.

Who captures Proteus in the Odyssey?

MenelausThe satyr-play of Aeschylus' Orestea, the Proteus described Menelaus' capture of the prophetic sea-god Proteus on the island of Pharos. Euripides, Helen 1 ff (trans.

Who was Proteus and Triton?

Proteus was one of the mythological Greek gods of the sea, and Triton was the son of Poseidon and Aphrodite whose horn was a conch shell for calming or stirring the waters.

What can Proteus do?

Proteus is a gram-negative, anaerobic bacterium of the Enterobacteriaceae family (Brooker 2008). Under the microscope it is rod shaped, motile (can move due to its flagella) and has a characteristic “swarming” ability that allows it to migrate across catheter surfaces (Armbruster 2013).

What powers did Proteus have?

Proteus In Greek mythology, a sea god, son of Oceanus and Tethys. He is depicted as a little old man of the sea. Proteus possessed the gift of prophecy and the ability to alter his form at will; in an instant he could become fire, flood or a wild beast.

What does the name Proteus mean?

Name origin Proteus' name suggests the "first" (from Greek "πρῶτος" prōtos, "first"), as prōtogonos (πρωτόγονος) is the "primordial" or the "firstborn".

How were Poseidon and Proteus different?

You remember that Proteus was a minor sea god, a god of knowledge, an attendant on Poseidon. Poseidon is the ocean, the total view, every structure in the ocean itself. Proteus, the god of knowledge, though, is a minor god.

Who defeated Proteus?

Proteus is depicted in many different ways in Greek mythology. In some, he is one of the water gods in Greek mythology, a son of Poseidon. In others, he is a son of Aegyptus where he was slain on his wedding night. In others, he was a Trojan soldier who was slain by Odysseus during the war with Troy.

How does Menelaus capture Proteus?

How did Menelaus capture Proteus? Menelaus and three of his men hid under sealskin. When Proteus was asleep, they seized him, holding on while he turned to a lion, dragon, leopard, boar, running water, tree, and finally back to himself.

Who was Proteus in Greek mythology?

In Greek mythology, Proteus ( / ˈproʊtiəs, ˈproʊt.juːs /; Ancient Greek: Πρωτεύς - protos, "first") was an ancient Egyptian king who was associated with the island of Pharos, his residence in Homer's Odyssey. Virgil, however, instead of Pharos, mentions the island of Carpathos, between Crete and Rhodes. This Greek island is the closest ...

Where is Proteus in the Odyssey?

Proteus in The Odyssey. In the tale which Menelaus recites to Telemachus son of Odysseus, Menelaus mentions being stranded on the island called Pharos. It is here after 20 days that he is approached by the goddess Eidothea daughter of Proteus.

What does Proteus mean?

Etymology. 'Proteus' may be based on one of the titles of the Egyptian king, pꜣ - rwtj, signifying the "high doors" (cf. Sublime Porte) of the temple. Proteus also seems to have been associated with Thrace, and legends portray him as coming from Thrace to Egypt, or as going from Egypt to Thrace.

Who was the king of Egypt when Proteus took Helen?

In Book II of The History, the story is told of how Proteus rose to the throne of Egypt out of Memphis, succeeding Pheron as king. He was later succeeded by Rhampsinitus (Ramesses III, as he was known by the Egyptians ). When Paris stole Helen from Sparta, winds blew him off his intended course and he found himself in Egypt. Upon their arrival, Paris and his servants discovered a temple, in which the slaves realized it would be profitable for them to take refuge. Thus, they deserted Paris, informing the authorities of his numerous wrongdoings. Word of Paris' crimes reached Proteus, who then requested Paris be brought forth for inquiry. Proteus asked Paris for the details of his journey, ultimately concluding that despite his anger and Paris' terrible actions, he cannot kill a man who is a stranger from another land. Instead of death as Paris' punishment, Proteus took Helen from Paris and seized the treasure stolen from Menelaus, intending to return both Helen and the treasure to Menelaus, to whom they were rightfully due. Proteus then urged Paris to leave Egypt.

Who was Proteus married to?

According to Euripides, Proteus was married to the Nereid Psamathe, had a son Theoclymenos, and a daughter Theonoe who was a gifted seer. Theoclymenos became the new king of Egypt after Proteus and had intentions of marrying Helen.

Which Greek island is closest to Pharos?

Virgil , however, instead of Pharos, mentions the island of Carpathos, between Crete and Rhodes. This Greek island is the closest to Pharos geographically.

Who urged Paris to leave Egypt?

Proteus then urged Paris to leave Egypt. Herodotus also makes references to Homer 's Iliad and Odyssey, claiming Homer must have been aware of this version of events despite using the more common story.

Where did Proteus live?

He was subject to the sea god Poseidon, and his dwelling place was either the island of Pharos, near the mouth of the Nile River, or the island of Carpathus, between Crete and Rhodes. Britannica Quiz.

Why is Proteus a symbol of the original matter from which the world was created?

Because Proteus could assume whatever shape he pleased, he came to be regarded by some as a symbol of the original matter from which the world was created. The word protean, one meaning of which is “changeable in shape or form,” is derived from Proteus.

Did Proteus know all things?

Proteus knew all things—past, present, and future—but disliked divulging what he knew. Those who wished to consult him had first to surprise and bind him during his noonday slumber. Even when caught he would try to escape by assuming all sorts of shapes.

Who was Menelaus' wife?

Menelaus was a king whose wife, Helen, ran away from him with another man. When Menelaus discovered she was gone he searched for her and then asked his brother King Agamemnon for help. The two kings sailed to Troy and attacked the city when Helen was not returned to Menelaus.

What is the Iliad about?

Homer's ''The Iliad'' tells of the Trojan War between the Achaeans and the Trojans. This 10-year war could have been avoided if the duel between Menelaus and Paris had gone differently. This lesson explores the duel and its significance.

What is the theme of Proteus in Ulysses?

Truth, as we will see, is a major concern of “Proteus” in Ulysses, and the theme is brought up in Homer during the lead-up to the conversation between Telemachus and Menelaus. Telemachus begs, “Don’t soften a thing; tell me, clearly,” and Menelaus responds, “I’ll skew and sidestep nothing, nor deceive you, ever.”.

Who are Stephen's epistemological forebears?

Aristotle and Shakespeare also come up in the episode as Stephen’s epistemological and creative forebears, and a number of heresiarchs appear as his theological interlocutors. Much of “Proteus,” then, is very abstracted in Stephen’s thoughts, but of course the Protean metaphor is enacted equally through bodily processes.

What does the sea bring Stephen back to?

The sea brings Stephen back to his thoughts of the drowned man, “five fathoms out there” (3.470). His language is never far from Shakespeare’s, and “five fathoms” transforms into the “full fathom five thy father lies” from The Tempest (3.470).

What does Stephen think about the pigeons?

He thinks about the pigeons, and the midrash (of sorts) that explains that the Virgin insisted she was impregnated by a pigeon. Stephen notes, “My father’s a bird,” and he hopes that his father lends him La Vie de Jesus, in which the story concerning the pigeon and the Virgin Mary is recorded (3.164).

Is Stephen's father an omnipotent God?

Stephen’s father is at one point an omnipotent God, but so also is the bloated corpse offshore, as it literally fathers new life through its own consumption and decay. The process of cerebral creation itself is reflected in Stephen’s physically creative acts: his urination and nose-picking.

Why is Proteus the Old Man?

He was the “old man” because he was older than his brother, Triton. Proteus occurs in even the earliest myths of Poseidon. This, however, could also point to a more ancient origin. While he was generally called Poseidon’s son, Proteus may have also been a primordial god who was far older than the Olympians.

Where did Proteus live?

According to Homer, Proteus made his home on the island of Pharos. This interesting detail could give a clue as to how the Old Man of the Sea became a part of the Greek tradition. Proteus bears some resemblance to the Phoenician sea god Melkart.

Why is Proteus called Proteus?

The name Proteus comes from the Greek word for “first,” giving a clue as to the god’s origins. Even this, however, still leaves more than one possibility. The most commonly accepted tradition was that Proteus was the first son born to the sea god Poseidon. He was the “old man” because he was older than his brother, Triton.

What did Proteus do before giving up?

Aristaeus had to capture the god and hold on while he shifted through several shapes. Proteus turned himself into many different beasts and animals before giving up. The Old Man of the Sea could imitate the forms of any animal of the sea or of land.

What was Proteus' connection to Egypt?

Proteus had a connection to Egypt. His sacred island, Pharos, was nearby and he advised Menelaus to go there to make his sacrifices. A few writers, however, have a very different version of Proteus. Instead of the Old Man of the Sea, he is the king of Egypt.

What are the attributes of Proteus?

One of the most notable attributes of Proteus was that he was a god of prophecy. He was said to be the only one among the gods or men that could see through the deepest, darkest parts of the sea. There, he learned secrets that were inaccessible to anyone else.

Which story is the most famous for Proteus and Menelaus?

Proteus and Menelaus. The most famous story of Proteus’s prophesies and shape shifting, however, occurs in Homer’s Odyssey. The protagonist’s son, Telemachus, had grown to adulthood while his father was away at war and struggling to make his way home.

Overview

Mythology

According to Homer (Odyssey iv: 355), the sandy island of Pharos situated off the coast of the Nile Delta was the home of Proteus, the oracular Old Man of the Sea and herdsman of the 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 Eidothea ("the very image of the Goddess"), that if he could capture her father, he could force him to reveal which of the gods he …

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