Nereus (2)
Ne'reus (Νηρεύς), a Christian at Rome to whom, with his sister, .the apostle Paul sent his salutation (Ro 16:15). A.D. 55. "The name may be of Hebrew origin, נר or נרי; or it may be, as Grotius suggests, from the Sabine Nerio, a word, according to Aulus Gellius, signifying 'virtus et fortitudo' (N.A. 13:2), and with which Nero and Nerienes, the wife of Mars, stand allied." " Origen conjectures that he belonged to the household of Philologus and Julia. Estius suggests that he may be identified with a Nereus who is said to have been baptized at Rome by St. Peter. A legendary account of him is given in Bolland, Acta Sanctorum, May 12; from which, in the opinion of Tillemont (H.E. 2:139), may be gathered the fact that he was beheaded at Terracina, probably in the reign of Nerva. His ashes are said to be deposited in the ancient church of SS. Nereo ed Archilleo at Rome. There is a reference to his legendary history in bishop Jeremy Taylor's sermon, The Marriage-ring, part 1."
