Definition:

Proteus (noun) = A primordial deity in Greek mythology, protector of the seas, rivers, and other bodies of water.  [REF] 

Protean (adjective) = Extremely variable, readily assuming different forms or characters.  [REF]

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Deconstruction:

There’s no shortage of Greek gods, many of which are water related.  But this trait is just the tip of the iceberg when describing the skills of Proteus, and how he ties into the modern lexicon.

Aside from being an aquatic specialist, Proteus has a few other tricks up his hairy sleeve, or under his fishy tail.  The ability to change his physical appearance on queue.  A prophetic knowledge of worldly events.  Fluidity in life activities to match the liquid environ he commands.  Not a bad trio of superpowers to be endowed with.

With nicknames like “Old Man of the Sea” and “Herdsman of the Sea-Beasts”, Proteus was quite a renowned character in his day.  Despise his immense capabilities, he was happiest simply napping in the water off his island home of Pharos, laying amongst the collection of seals he tasked himself with shepherding.

Rumor had it, in addition to his insights into the future, Proteus could peer deep into the depths of the ocean, having familiarity with unique aquatic lifeforms and happenings which commoners floating on the surface of the seas were completely oblivious to.  

His name’s word origin is related to the Ancient Greek word for “first”, "πρῶτος" in Linear B, the original Greek script, or “prōtos” in modern English characters.  

This terminology potentially references Proteus being the firstborn male of Poseidon, as opposed to Triton, another well-known son of this famous sea god.  However, scholarly research differs on the order, and quantity, of Poseidon’s children.  

When a character is purported to be responsible for over 2 dozen offspring, many out of wedlock, and some through forceable means, it’s not surprising the timeline is a little shaky.   This sentiment summarizes the entire complex, incestuous web which is Greek mythology. 

Proteus was no procreation slouch in his own right, fathering at least 5 sons and 4 daughters.  Many of these individuals played smaller roles amongst the more famous characters in the epic Grecian saga: two of the men were killed by Hercules, and one of the ladies carried a child for Zeus.  

In both Homer’s Odyssey, and Virgil’s 4th Georgic, Proteus played essentially the same role in the plot.  Captured by key male warrior protagonists, he changed forms many times in an effort to escape, before finally yielding and providing valuable insight, past, present, and future based, about important family members and key activities far afield. 

In various tall tales, Proteus has been depicted transforming into all manner of embodiments, both animals and plants, from real to imaginary, encompassing sea and land origins.  The random collection includes fish, lion, panther, serpent, tree, pig, seal, fire, and, of course, water itself.  All these shapeshifting activities occured with the goal of avoiding capture and questioning about impending events.

The concept of a character who can foretell time, but is hesitant to do so, is so prevalent in historical fiction literature that it represents one of the classic mythemes; an essential throughline concept which is repeated across a wide swath of cultural anecdotes.  

Since being introduced via Homer’s Greek classics back in the 8th century BCE, Proteus as a character has appeared in many literary works, generally with at least a loose reference to his oceanic control powers, dynamic shape-shifting abilities, and reserved prophetic skills.

Famous examples include William Shakespeare (The Two Gentlemen of Verona - 1598 and Henry VI - 1623), John Milton (Paradise Lost - 1667), William Wordsworth (Book of Nature - 1798), Kurt Vonnegut (Piano Player - 1952), and Chris Claremont (Uncanny X-Men - 1979).

In addition to fictional pursuits, the scientific community has understandably adopted the Proteus terminology across a variety of fields.  Biology is especially ripe which instances where organisms morph their shape.  

Amoeba proteus is a large species of unicellular organisms which use pseudopodia, arm-like extensions, to propel themselves around.  The naming convention dates all the way back to 1755, when German entomologist August Johann Rösel von Rosenhof drew an amoeboid protozoan he observed in his notebook, with the caption “little Proteus” underneath.  Understandable, considering this amoeba’s fluid movements and tendency to inhabit freshwater environments.

Proteus mirabilis was discovered by Gustav Hauser, a German pathologist, in 1885.  He observed many of the bacteria’s key traits, which led this scientist to select the Proteus name directly from Homer’s Odyssey epic.  This proteus bacteria’s direct reference to the Greek god is quite apt, due to these little guys ability to move quickly through liquids, grow rapidly in swarms, and secrete enzymes to evade the host’s defense system, all making these germs perfect for causing urinary tract infections.

The Protea family of flowers is incredibly diverse, with hundreds of unique varietals, which have evolved and adapted over 300 million years on Planet Earth.  The vast range in size, shape, and color for the blooms, which are native to southern Africa and Australia, makes this flora worthy of the Proteus name.

Proteus is the second largest moon orbiting the eerily blue planet of Neptune.  It’s fitting that Greek and Roman gods of water unite in the cold depths of the heavens.  Discovered by Voyager 2 in 1989, this irregularly shaped orb is over 400 km in diameter on the widest axis.

Not surprising considering the mythological roots, all manner of civilian and military watercraft over time have adopted the Proteus name.  Similarly, many fictional films and video games have utilized this moniker for the title, characters, and vessels, all based around water.

Lastly, the morphing powers of Proteus have been tied to various alchemy theories and techniques throughout history.  However, like this entire fake field of metallurgy, none of these efforts panned out.

In addition to these many overt references to Proteus, this character has also influenced the modern lexicon in a much more subtle, but quite profound, way.  This revelation can be made by diving deeper into the name’s etymological roots. 

As previously mentioned, the Ancient Greek stem “prōto”, translates to “earliest”, “preceding”, or “basic”.  But this term can be traced even further than the Mycenaean Greek origins of 1400 BCE. 

In truly meta fashion, the Proto-Indo-European, or PIE, language is a reconstructed dialect dating all the way back to 5th – 2nd millennium BCE.  Extensive linguistic work has been done on this system, as it provides the fundamental structure for much of modern written and verbal communication.  It’s likely this hybrid language never existing in a singular form, and is simply an amalgamation of different letters and words which were used by various interacting cultures during this time.  

The origin of “proto” in the PEI format is “pre”, an incredibly common start to many well-known English words, meaning “forward, “first”, or “in front of”.  In another layer of circularity, the term “prefix”, of which “pre” is a common one, literally applies to the front of a word.  

Also, when followed by a vowel as a prefix, the last “o” in “proto” is dropped.  This approach is quite common in the English language with words like protect, protein, and protest.

With these two language revelations, an entire additional scope of words can be tied to good old Proteus.  For some terms, the linkage to the prefix is simple, while others require a deeper root analysis.

For example, examine this pitch for a new science fiction book concept.  Using the following combination of words in a single sentence must be a first.

“The protagonist is the protegee of a protean scientist who discovered protozoa through extensive prototype experiments with documented protocols.”

While Proteus may not be as famous a character relative to other Greek mythology titans like Apollo, Hermes, or Prometheus, his legacy on language and culture is hard to overstate.  Being versatile, thoughtful, and predictive are important traits associated with exploration and innovation in all phases of modern human existence.  

Not a bad outcome for a sleepy old man prone to taking midday naps at the beach.

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Details:

• Detailed Proteus background with language insights.  [REF]

• Compiled online summary of Proteus usage over time.  [REF]

• Collection of mythological activities by Proteus.  [REF]

• Etymology to “proto”, the root of Proteus.  [REF]

• List of mainstream words tied to the Greek “proto” prefix.  [REF]