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Nereus

Nereus

What role did Nereus play in Greek Mythology?

Nereus

Ah... Got to love Greek Mythology!

Nereus(The Old Man of the Sea) preceded Poseidon and as such, he was a deity related to the sea and ocean. He was able to change shapes whenever he wished, so that made him untraceable. He was also a seer.

Nereus was living in a cave when Hercules tracked him down after much effort, while trying to accomplish his eleventh (additional) labour, to steal the apples of the Hesperides. Nereus was the only one who knew, but he wasn't willing to tell Hercules anything, especially such a secret (the garden of Hesperides was a wedding gift from Gaia to Hera when she agreed to finally marry Zeus) . After much talk, Nereus decided to help Hercules, but only if he could catch him. Hercules agreed, but Nereus kept shape-shifting so it was almost impossible for Hercules to catch him. Of course, in the end, Nereus failed and had to tell the semi-god the way to the garden.

Another myth speaks of the prophetic abilities of Nereus, as he was the one who (along with Cassandra, sister of Paris and Hector) had foreseen the destruction of Troy if Paris kept Helen with him. Nereus warned Paris of what would happen with this bad deed, but the young man ignored his wise words.

Nereus History & Civil Business Politics

That's cool info. Wasn't Nereus also the grandfather of the great Achilles?