Nereus
（Νηρεύς). The eldest son of Pontus and Gaea, husband of Doris, daughter of Oceanus, father of fifty (according to a later account, a hundred) beautiful sea-nymphs, the Nereids. He is described as a venerable old man, of a kindly disposition towards mortals, and as dwelling in a resplendent cave in the depths of the Aegean. Like all gods of water, he had the gift of prophecy and of transforming himself into any shape he chose to assume. He was represented as an old man with the leaves of sea-weed for hair and a sceptre or trident. His daughters were likewise benevolent beings, well disposed to mortals ( Il. xviii. 141; Odyss. xxiv. 58). The myths related of Nereus strongly suggest those told of Glaucus (q.v.) and Proteus (q.v.).