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{{Short description|Ancient Greek sea god and father of the Nereids}}
{{other uses}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Greek
| name = Nereus
| deity_of = 
| member_of = [[Greek sea gods|Sea Gods]]
| image = Altar Pérgamo Nereo 07.JPG
| alt = 
| caption = Nereus in a frieze of the [[Pergamon Altar]] (Berlin).
| other_names = Old Man of the Sea
| affiliation = 
| cult_center = 
| abode = [[Aegean Sea]]
| planet = 
| consort = [[Doris (Oceanid)|Doris]]
| parents = [[Pontus (mythology)|Pontus]] and [[Gaia (mythology)|Gaia]]
| siblings = {{hlist|[[Thaumas]]|[[Phorcys]]|[[Ceto]]|[[Eurybia (mythology)|Eurybia]]}}
| offspring = {{hlist|[[Nerites (mythology)|Nerites]]|the [[Nereids]]}}
| predecessor = 
| successor = 
| army = 
| mount = 
| texts = 
| Greek_equivalent = 
| Roman_equivalent = 
| Etruscan_equivalent = 
| Christian_equivalent = 
| Slavic_equivalent = 
| Hinduism_equivalent = 
| Canaanite_equivalent = 
| region = 
| ethnic_group = 
| festivals = 
}}
{{Greek deities (water)}}

In [[Greek mythology]], '''Nereus''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|n|ɪər|i|ə|s}} {{respell|NEER|ee|əs}}; {{Langx|grc|Νηρεύς|Nēreús}}) was the eldest son of [[Pontus (mythology)|Pontus]] (the [[Sea]]) and [[Gaia (mythology)|Gaia]] ([[the Earth]]), with Pontus himself being a son of Gaia. Nereus and [[Doris (Oceanid)|Doris]] became the parents of 50 daughters (the [[Nereid]]s) and a son ([[Nerites (mythology)|Nerites]]), with whom Nereus lived in the [[Aegean Sea]].<ref>
[[Hesiod]], ''[[Theogony]]'' 233-36, is unequivocal that Nereus is ''the'' [[Old Man of the Sea]] (ἅλιος γέρων), whereas the ''[[Odyssey]]'' gives the sobriquet to Nereus (xxiv.58) to [[Proteus]] (iv.365, 387), and to [[Phorkys]] (xiii.96, 345).
</ref>

== Name ==
The name Nereus is absent from [[Homer]]'s epics; the god's name in the [[Iliad]] is the descriptive {{lang|grc|ἅλιος γέρων}} {{gloss|[[Old Man of the Sea]]}}, and in the [[Odyssey]] the combination of {{lang|grc|ἅλιος γέρων}} and {{lang|grc|Πρωτεύς}} {{gloss|[[Proteus]]}}.<ref name="Tsantsanoglou-Chantraine-LSJ">{{harvnb|Tsantsanoglou|2015|p=5}}; {{harvnb|Chantraine|1968|p=751}}; {{Cite web |title=Νηρεύς – Ancient Greek (LSJ) |url=https://lsj.gr/wiki/%CE%9D%CE%B7%CF%81%CE%B5%CF%8D%CF%82#Greek_Monolingual |website=lsj.gr}}</ref> Besides Nereus and Proteus, the descriptive "Old Man of the Sea" was used for other [[Greek water deities#Old men and nymphs|water deities in Greek mythology]] who share several traits, among them [[Phorcys]], [[Glaucus]], and perhaps [[Triton (mythology)|Triton]]. It is suggested that the "Old Man of the Sea" had at one time played a [[cosmogonic]] role comparable to that of [[Oceanus]] and could have received different names in different places.<ref>{{harvnb|Rudhardt|1992|p=82}}</ref> It is not known whether the name Nereus was known to Homer or not, but the name of the [[Nereids]] is attested before it and can be found in the Iliad.<ref name="Tsantsanoglou-Chantraine-LSJ" /> Since Nereus only has relevance as the father of the Nereids, it has been suggested that his name could actually be derived from that of his daughters;<ref>{{harvnb|Beekes|van Beek|2010|pp=ix, xliii, 1017}}; {{harvnb|Tsantsanoglou|2015|p=14}}</ref> while the derivation of the Nereids from Nereus, as a [[patronymic]], has also been suggested.<ref>{{harvnb|Beekes|van Beek|2010|pp=ix, xliii, 1017}}</ref> According to [[Martin Litchfield West]] (1966), Nereus is much less important than his daughters, mentioning that [[Herodotus]] offered "the Nereids, not Nereus, as an example of a divine name not derived from Egypt".<ref>{{harvnb|Litchfield West|1966|p=233}}</ref>

In [[Hesiod]]'s ''[[Theogony]]'', where the name was first attested, Nereus is presented in immediate juxtaposition to [[Eris (mythology)|Eris]], and this extends to their children. First of all, there exists a feminine-masculine opposition. Eris is the youngest child of [[Nyx]] and the only one for whom children are mentioned, while Nereus is [[Pontus (mythology)|Pontus]]' oldest son and, again, is granted the most attention. Hesiod chooses verbs and adjectives to describe Nereus in juxtaposition to Eris' children, such as {{lang|grc|ἀ-ψευδέα}} {{gloss|does-not-lie}} and {{lang|grc|ἀ-ληθέα}} {{gloss|does-not-forget}}, as opposed to {{lang|grc|Ψευδέα}} {{gloss|Lies}} and {{lang|grc|[[Lethe|Λήθη]]}} {{gloss|Forgetfulness}}.<ref>{{harvnb|Litchfield West|1966|pp=232–234}}; {{harvnb|Prier|1976|pp=40–41}}; {{harvnb|Scully|2015|pp=16–18}}; {{harvnb|Scully|2018|pp=87–89}}; {{harvnb|Vergados|2020|pp=87–89}}</ref> This has prompted scholars to propose a [[etymology|derivation]] from {{lang|grc|Ἔρις}} {{transliteration|grc|Eris}} {{gloss|Discord}} with the [[negation (linguistics)| negative prefix]] {{lang|grc|νη{{nbh}}}} {{transliteration|grc|ne{{nbh}}}} added to it; namely, ''Ne-Eris'' {{gloss|Not-Discord}}, which evolved to {{lang|grc|Νηρεύς}} (< {{lang|grc|νη-ερ(ι)-ευς}}).<ref>{{harvnb|Scully|2015|p=18}}; {{harvnb|Scully|2018|p=88}}; {{harvnb|Vergados|2020|p=89}}</ref> Furthermore, Hesiod [[wordplay|plays]] with the verbal likeness between ''Nereus'' and his last daughter {{lang|grc|Νημερτής}} {{transliteration|grc|Nemertes}} {{gloss|Unerring}}, whose name also bears the negative prefix {{lang|grc|νη{{nbh}}}}.<ref>{{harvnb|Prier|1976|p=40}}</ref>

Another possible etymology could be from {{lang|grc|νηρόν}}, {{transliteration|grc|nerón}} {{gloss|(fresh) water or fish}}, which is a [[Contraction (grammar)|contraction]] of the Greek adjective {{lang|grc|νεαρός}}, {{transliteration|grc|nearós}} {{gloss|new, fresh, young}}.<ref name="Beekes2010">{{harvnb|Beekes|van Beek|2010|pp=ix, xliii, 1017–1018}}</ref> It is commonly believed that the contraction of νεαρός to νηρός happened later than Hesiod; however, the contraction of [[Epsilon|ε]] and [[Alpha|α]] to [[Eta|η]] is quite old and widespread over many Greek dialects.<ref>{{harvnb|Tsantsanoglou|2015|pp=11–12}}</ref>

The name could be related to the [[Hesychius of Alexandria|Hesychian]] glosses {{lang|grc|νηρίδας}} {{gloss|hollow rocks}} or {{lang|grc|νηρόν}} {{gloss|low-lying}}. [[Robert S. P. Beekes]] (2010) favors a [[Pre-Greek]] (pre-[[Indo-European]]) origin, as is suggested by the suffix {{lang|grc|{{nbh}}εύς}},{{nbsp}}{{transliteration|grc|{{nbh}}eús}}.<ref name="Beekes2010" /> Another view is that of [[Apostolos Athanassakis]] (1983), who suggested an [[Illyrians|Illyrian]] origin for the name and compared it to the [[Albanian language|Albanian]] word {{lang|sq|njeri}} {{gloss|man}}.<ref>{{harvnb|Athanassakis|2004|p=43}}</ref>

According to [[August Fick]] (1890), the closest [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] relative of ''Nereus'' and ''Nereids'' is the [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] verb {{lang|lt|nérti}} {{gloss|to dive}}; moreover, the Lithuanian noun {{lang|lt|nėrõvė}} {{gloss|mermaid}} has been associated with the Nereids.<ref name="Tsantsanoglou2015">{{harvnb|Tsantsanoglou|2015|p=14}}</ref> Papachristophorou (1998) supported a derivation from the aforementioned Lithuanian verb, citing [[Pierre Chantraine]] (1968),<ref>{{harvnb|Papachristophorou|1998|p=190}}; {{harvnb|Chantraine|1968|p=751}}</ref> while Tsantsanoglou (2015) considered the relation plausible.<ref name="Tsantsanoglou2015" />

The name of the Nereids has survived in [[modern Greek folklore]] as [[wikt:νεράιδα|νεράιδες]], {{transliteration|el|neráides}} {{gloss|fairies}}.<ref>{{harvnb|Chantraine|1968|p=751}}; {{harvnb|Papachristophorou|1998|p=190}}; {{harvnb|Litchfield West|1966|p=233}}</ref>

== Mythology ==
In the ''[[Iliad]]'',<ref>''Iliad'' i.358, 538, 556; xviii.141; xx.107; xxiv.562.</ref> the [[Old Man of the Sea]] is the father of Nereids, though Nereus is not directly named. He was never more manifestly the Old Man of the Sea than when he was described, like [[Proteus]], as a [[shapeshifting|shapeshifter]] with the power of prophecy, who would aid heroes such as [[Heracles]]<ref>Or, as [[Proteus]], [[Menelaus]].</ref> who managed to catch him even as he changed shapes. Nereus and [[Proteus]] (the "first") seem to be two manifestations of the god of the sea who was supplanted by [[Poseidon]] when [[Zeus]] overthrew [[Cronus]].

The earliest poet to link Nereus with the [[Twelve Labors of Heracles|labours of Heracles]] was [[Pherecydes of Athens|Pherekydes]], according to a ''[[scholia|scholion]]'' on [[Apollonius of Rhodes]].<ref>''On Argonautica'' iv.1396f, noted by Ruth Glynn, "Herakles, Nereus and Triton: A Study of Iconography in Sixth Century Athens", ''American Journal of Archaeology'' '''85'''.2 (April 1981, pp. 121–132) p 121f.</ref>

During the course of the 5th century BC, Nereus was gradually replaced by [[Triton (mythology)|Triton]], who does not appear in Homer, in the imagery of the struggle between Heracles and the sea-god who had to be restrained in order to deliver his information that was employed by the vase-painters, independent of any literary testimony.<ref>Glynn 1981:121–132.</ref>

In a late appearance, according to a fragmentary [[papyrus]], [[Alexander the Great]] paused at the Syrian seashore before the climacteric [[battle of Issus]] (333 BC), and resorted to prayers, "calling on [[Thetis]], Nereus and the Nereids, nymphs of the sea, and invoking [[Poseidon]] the sea-god, for whom he ordered a [[Quadriga|four-horse chariot]] to be cast into the waves."<ref>[[Karl Wilhelm Ludwig Müller]]'s ed. Papyrus Oxyrrhincus ''Fragmenta Historicorum Graecorum'' 148, 44, col. 2; quoted by Robin Lane Fox, ''Alexander the Great'' (1973) 1986:168 and note. Thetis was the mother of Alexander's hero [[Achilles]].</ref>

Nereus was known for his truthfulness and virtue:
{{blockquote|But Pontos, the great sea, was father of truthful Nereus who tells no lies, eldest of his sons. They call him the Old Gentleman because he is trustworthy, and gentle, and never forgetful of what is right, but the thoughts of his mind are mild and righteous.<ref>Hesiod, ''Theogony'' 233</ref>}}

The Attic vase-painters showed the draped torso of Nereus issuing from a long coiling scaly fishlike tail.<ref>[[Beazley Archive]] [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/D7A36279-CF7A-4A24-A520-5A1D177DE573 201859]; [http://www.theoi.com/Gallery/P11.1.html Theoi.com]; Glynn 1981.</ref> Bearded Nereus generally wields a staff of authority. He was also shown in scenes depicting the flight of the Nereides as Peleus wrestled their sister Thetis.

In [[Claudius Aelianus|Aelian]]'s natural history, written in the early third century,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.theoi.com/Pontios/Nerites.html| title = Aelian, ''On Animals'' 14.28}}</ref> Nereus was also the father of a watery consort of [[Aphrodite]] and lover of Poseidon named [[Nerites (mythology)|Nerites]] who was transformed into "a shellfish with a spiral shell, small in size but of surpassing beauty."

Nereus was father to [[Thetis]], one of the Nereids, who in turn was mother to the great Greek hero [[Achilles]], and [[Amphitrite]], who married [[Poseidon]].

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* {{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FS5ZoYYhd2EC |title=Hesiod: Theogony, Works and Days, Shield |date=2 August 2004 |publisher=[[Johns Hopkins University Press]] |isbn=978-0-8018-7984-5 |editor-last=Athanassakis |editor-first=Apostolos |editor-link=Apostolos Athanassakis |edition=2nd |publication-date=2004 |language=en |orig-date=1983}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Beekes |first1=Robert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4qudQAAACAAJ |title=Etymological Dictionary of Greek |last2=van Beek |first2=Lucien |date=2010 |publisher=[[Brill Publishers]] |isbn=978-90-04-17418-4 |editor-last=Lubotsky |editor-first=Alexander |editor-link=Alexander Lubotsky |language=en |author-link=Robert S. P. Beekes |author-link2=:w:nl:Lucien van Beek}}
* {{Cite book |last=Chantraine |first=Pierre |url=https://archive.org/details/Dictionnaire-Etymologique-Grec/ |title=Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue grecque |date=1968 |publisher=[[:w:fr:Klincksieck|Klincksieck]] |language=fr |author-link=Pierre Chantraine}}
* Glynn, Ruth, "Herakles, Nereus and Triton: A Study of Iconography in Sixth Century Athens", in the ''American Journal of Archaeology'', vol. 85, no. 2, pp.&nbsp;121–132. {{JSTOR|505032}}.
* [[Robert Graves|Graves, Robert]], ''The Greek Myths: The Complete and Definitive Edition.'' Penguin Books Limited. 2017. {{ISBN|978-0-241-98338-6|024198338X}}
* [[Károly Kerényi|Kerényi, Carl]], ''The Gods of the Greeks'', Thames and Hudson, London, 1951. [https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.7346/page/n7/mode/2up Internet Archive].
* {{Cite book |last=Litchfield West |first=Martin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-C5yAAAAIAAJ |title=Hesiod: Theogony (Edited with Prolegomena and Commentary) |date=1966 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press#Clarendon Press|Clarendon Press]] |language=en |author-link=Martin Litchfield West}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Papachristophorou |first=Marilena |orig-date=1997 |title=To παραμύθι της Νεράϊδας (ΑΤ 400): αναπαραστάσεις των φύλων μέσα από την έλξη / άπωση του υπερφυσικού και του ανθρώπινου στοιχείου |url=https://www.academia.edu/4721218 |journal=Ethnologhia |language=el |publication-date=1998 |volume=5}}
* {{Cite book |last=Prier |first=Raymond A. |url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110805345/html |title=Archaic Logic: Symbol and Structure in Heraclitus, Parmenides and Empedocles |date=1976 |publisher=[[De Gruyter|De Gruyter Mouton]] |doi=10.1515/9783110805345 |isbn=9027-9-3155-0 |language=en}}
* {{Cite book |last=Rudhardt |first=Jean |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ANC8Cwuk46sC |title=Greek and Egyptian Mythologies |date=1992 |publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]] |isbn=978-0-226-06454-3 |editor-last=Bonnefoy |editor-first=Yves |editor-link=Yves Bonnefoy |pages=79–84 |language=en |chapter=Deities of Water in Greek Mythology |author-link=:w:fr:Jean Rudhardt}}
* {{Cite book |last=Scully |first=Stephen |url=https://academic.oup.com/book/9962 |title=Hesiod's Theogony: from Near Eastern Creation Myths to Paradise Lost |date=2015 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-025396-7 |language=en}}
* {{Cite book |last=Scully |first=Stephen |title=The Oxford Handbook of Hesiod |date=2018 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-020903-2 |editor-last=Loney |editor-first=Alexander C. |language=en |chapter=Hesiodic Poetics |editor-last2=Scully |editor-first2=Stephen |chapter-url=https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/27942/chapter/211864766}}
* {{Cite book |last=Tsantsanoglou |first=Kyriakos |title=Lemmata: Beiträge zum Gedenken an Christos Theodoridis |date=2015 |publisher=[[De Gruyter]] |isbn=978-3-11-035434-8 |editor-last=Tziatzi |editor-first=Maria |language=en |chapter=Νηρεύς, A Controversial Water-god |pages=5–15 |doi=10.1515/9783110354348-005 |editor-last2=Billerbeck |editor-first2=Margarethe |editor-last3=Montanari |editor-first3=Franco |editor-last4=Tsantsanoglou |editor-first4=Kyriakos |chapter-url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110354348-005/html}}
* {{Cite book |last=Vergados |first=Athanassios |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0bryDwAAQBAJ |title=Hesiod's Verbal Craft: Studies in Hesiod's Conception of Language and its Ancient Reception |date=2020 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-253477-4 |language=en}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Nereus}}
* {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Nereus}}
* [http://www.theoi.com/Pontios/Nereus.html Theoi Project, Nereus]—the sea-god in classical [[literature]] and [[art]]

{{Greek religion}}
{{Greek mythology (deities)}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Shapeshifters in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Children of Gaia]]
[[Category:Greek sea gods]]
[[Category:Mythology of Heracles]]
[[Category:Therianthropy]]