He is the most ancient of all, for he presided over the elements that composed the universe. […] The surnames of the goddess are numerous, and serve to show how well established her worship was all over the earth. […] God of War, watch over the safety of this city.” […] Sometimes his statues represent him without arms, because the power of speech can prevail over everything. […] As the Dryads and Hamadryads presided over forests — as the Naiads watched over fountains and the sources of rivers — as the Oreads were the peculiar guardians of the hills, so the Nereids guided and commanded the waves of the ocean, and were implored as its deities.