Photos: One of the oldest parading krewes, Proteus takes to the streets on Lundi Gras

Founded in 1882, the Krewe of Proteus is the second-oldest krewe in Carnival history. Their floats still use the original chassis from the 1880s.

The organization is named after Proteus, the prophetic old man of the sea in Greek mythology, the shepherd of the sea’s flocks. A subject of Poseidon, Proteus could tell the future and change his shape. Like many of the traditional krewes, the King of Proteus is never revealed to public. His float is a giant seashell.