Proteus

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Proteus

Proteus - The most criminally-inclined of the New Olympians.

History

Proteus has attempted many times to wreak havoc on New Olympus and escape into the outside world, presumably to create more trouble there for his own amusement. During his (at this time of writing) penultimate attempt to escape New Olympus, he murdered Taurus’s father, who was then Chief of Security. Afterwards, he was locked up in a force field cell in New Olympus’s prison.

When Goliath, Elisa, Angela, and Bronx came to New Olympus on the Avalon World Tour, Proteus decided to take advantage of their arrival to make a fresh escape. After Elisa was locked up by Taurus, Proteus first masqueraded as her to trick Goliath into freeing him, and then, after subduing Goliath and imprisoning him in his cell, shape-shifted into Goliath to break Elisa out, hoping to trick her into leading him back to the skiff. First, however, he decided to enter the Columnadium and overload the power supply, which would have destroyed New Olympus. Fortunately, Elisa (who had by now discovered Proteus’s true identity) and Taurus arrived in time to foil his scheme and overpower him. Proteus is currently back in prison again.

Characteristics

Proteus is a shape-shifter, who can mimic any living thing, even distinct individuals, such as Goliath, Elisa, and Taurus. His shape-shifting presumably does not give him the full nature of what he masquerades as, however, for when he took on the form of Goliath, he did not undergo stone sleep in the daytime.

By nature, he is thoroughly evil and corrupt, delighting in deceit, psychological torture (he likes to taunt Taurus by shape-shifting into the form of his father), and senseless destruction.

Real World History

Proteus is named after a minor sea-god in Greek mythology, who looked after seals and served as a herdsman to them. Like the Proteus of "Gargoyles", he was a famous shape-shifter, although much more benevolent by nature; he was also very wise, and could even foresee the future, although he would only do so if somebody were to overpower him. For example, as recounted in Book Four of Homer's Odyssey, when King Menelaus of Sparta and his followers were shipwrecked off the coast of Egypt on their way home from the Trojan War, they learned that in order to discover how to return to Greece, they must capture Proteus and discover what they needed to know from him. Menelaus wrestled with Proteus, who shifted his shape into many forms in an effort to escape; Menelaus persisted, however, and at last Proteus gave him the information that he needed to know.

Production Background

Voice Actor: Roddy McDowell

See also

• Proteus at Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
• Proteus at the Theoi Project