Proteus of Egypt
In
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.[3]
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.[4]
There's also some sort of association of Proteus with the island of Lemnos, close to Thrace.
Mythology
Alternate story of Helen
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.
Tragedy by Euripides
Another take on this story is presented in the tragedy Helen by Euripides. In Euripides' version, Hera had Helen taken to Egypt by Hermes, and she created a phantom replacement of Helen which Paris takes to Troy. The play takes place when Menelaus arrives at Egypt after the war. Here Proteus had safeguarded Helen throughout the Trojan War, but is dead before the play begins. It opens with Helen visiting his tomb. 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.
Proteus in The Odyssey
In the tale which Menelaus recites to Telemachus, 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, the first minister of Poseidon. In this meeting she asks why Menelaus willingly stays on the island, to which he replies "Whichever of the divinities you are, let me tell you that I am not here of my own free will, I seem to have angered a god but which one I do not know, tell me now since gods are all knowing to whom I have displeased". Eidothea explains that it was Proteus who keeps him ashore. She hatches a plan which allows Menelaus to escape from the island, which includes the ambush of Proteus - who is described as being able to change his shape into various animals, plants, and substances.[6]
Proteus in Plato's dialogues
Proteus is briefly mentioned in several of Plato's dialogues. In the dialogue Euthydemus, Proteus is referred to by Socrates as an Egyptian wizard who can wear different external images. Socrates uses the story of Proteus to illustrate that just as he was able to deceive others by changing himself into different images, so can persons be deceptive in speech. [7] The same analogy is repeated in the dialogue Ion.[8]
Notes
- ^ Virgil, Georgics 4.387
- ^ Homer, Iliad 2.676
- ISBN 9004035141
- ^ Proteus, Theoi Project
- ^ Herodotus. The Histories (2008 ed.). Oxford University Press.
- ^ Homer, Odyssey 4.351
- ^ The Dialogues of Plato (Benjamin Jowett trans., 1875 ed), vol. 1, p. 213
- ^ The Dialogues of Plato (Benjamin Jowett trans., 1875 ed), vol. 1, p. 256
References
- ISBN 978-0-226-30781-7.
- Herodotus, The Histories with an English translation by A. D. Godley. Cambridge. Harvard University Press. 1920. . Online version at the Topos Text Project. Greek text available at Perseus Digital Library.
- Homer, Homeri Opera in five volumes. Oxford, Oxford University Press. 1920. .
- Publius Vergilius Maro, Bucolics, Aeneid, and Georgics of Vergil. J. B. Greenough. Boston. Ginn & Co. 1900. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.