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Description
Son of Gaia and Pontus.
Brother of Keto, Phorcys, Thaumas, Eurybia and Charybdis.
Consort of Dóris.
Primitive marine god, represented as an elderly character, the old man of the sea. He was the eldest son of Pontus, the name Nereus is absent from Homer's epics; the name of the god in the Iliad is the descriptive 'Old Man of the Sea', in addition to Nereus and Proteus, the description "Old Man of the Sea" was also used for other sea deities in Greek mythology, who share several traits; like Phorcis, Glaucon and perhaps Triton. It is suggested that the "Old Man of the Sea" at one time played a cosmogonic role comparable to that of Oceanus, and could have been given different names in different places. It is not known whether the name Nereus was known to Homer or not, but the name of the Nereids was, and can be found in the Iliad.
Nereus only has relevance as the father of the Nereids, Nereus is much less important than his daughters, Nereus was described as a shapeshifter with the power of prophecy, who would help the hero Heracles who managed to catch him even when he changed shape. Nereus and Proteus (the "first") appear to be two manifestations of the sea god who was replaced by Poseidon when Zeus overthrew Kronos.
Nereus was known for his truthfulness and virtue:
Pontus, the great sea, was the father of the true Nereus who tells no lies, the eldest of his sons. They call him the Old Gentleman because he is trustworthy and kind, and never forgets what is right, but the thoughts of his mind are soft and right.
With Doris he fathered: 50 Nereids (Amphitrite, Thetis and Galatea, are some examples) and the lover of Poseidon and Aphrodite, Nerites.

Description
Son of Gaia and Pontus.
Brother of Keto, Phorcys, Thaumas, Eurybia and Charybdis.
Consort of Dóris.
Primitive marine god, represented as an elderly character, the old man of the sea. He was the eldest son of Pontus, the name Nereus is absent from Homer's epics; the name of the god in the Iliad is the descriptive 'Old Man of the Sea', in addition to Nereus and Proteus, the description "Old Man of the Sea" was also used for other sea deities in Greek mythology, who share several traits; like Phorcis, Glaucon and perhaps Triton. It is suggested that the "Old Man of the Sea" at one time played a cosmogonic role comparable to that of Oceanus, and could have been given different names in different places. It is not known whether the name Nereus was known to Homer or not, but the name of the Nereids was, and can be found in the Iliad.
Nereus only has relevance as the father of the Nereids, Nereus is much less important than his daughters, Nereus was described as a shapeshifter with the power of prophecy, who would help the hero Heracles who managed to catch him even when he changed shape. Nereus and Proteus (the "first") appear to be two manifestations of the sea god who was replaced by Poseidon when Zeus overthrew Kronos.
Nereus was known for his truthfulness and virtue:
Pontus, the great sea, was the father of the true Nereus who tells no lies, the eldest of his sons. They call him the Old Gentleman because he is trustworthy and kind, and never forgets what is right, but the thoughts of his mind are soft and right.
With Doris he fathered: 50 Nereids (Amphitrite, Thetis and Galatea, are some examples) and the lover of Poseidon and Aphrodite, Nerites.