Proteus
Publié le 22/02/2012
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Greek A minor but ancient sea god who
served Poseidon. Proteus had enormous knowledge
and the ability to change his shape at will if he did
not want to stay around to answer questions. When
finally cornered, he advised Menelaus, whose ship
was becalmed off the coast of Egypt, that to escape he
should pay proper honor to the god Zeus. Menelaus
listened to the advice of the sea god and was eventually
able to sail home to Sparta.
In another story, Aristaeus, the son of Apollo,
sought the advice of Proteus, who advised him to
sacrifice cattle to the gods. Aristaeus did, and was
rewarded by seeing swarms of bees emerging from
the corpses of the slain cattle. (Aristaeus was an
expert in the art of beekeeping.)