Abstract
In Greek, mythology Proteus was a prophetic old shepherd who knew all things – past, present and future. Those who wished to consult him first had to surprise and bind him during his noonday slumber. But even when cornered, Proteus would try to escape by assuming different shapes: if he was caught, however, he would then tell all he knew. The adjective Protean thus came to mean: "variable, versatile; taking many forms".