In Greek mythology, Mopsus, a celebrated seer and diviner, was the son of Manto, daughter of the mythic seer Tiresias, and of Rhacius of Caria or of Apollo himself, the oracular god. Greeks of the Classical age accepted Mopsus as a historical figure, though the anecdotes concerning him bridge legend and myth.
Mopsus (and perhaps a tradition of his heirs, like the Melampodidae, the Iamidae from Olympia or the Eumolpidae at Eleusis) officiated at the altars of Apollo at Klaros, which he founded; at Klaros the tradition was that he had been the son of a daughter of the seer Teiresias named Manto, literally "seeress". [1] His unerring wisdom and discernment gave rise to the ancient Greek proverb, "more certain than Mopsus". He distinguished himself at the siege of Thebes; but he was held in particular veneration at the court of Amphilochus at Colophon on the Ionian coast of Asia Minor, adjacent to Caria.
The 12th century Byzantine mythographer John Tzetzes [2] reports anecdotes of the prowess of Mopsus. Having been consulted, on one occasion, by Amphilochus, who wished to know what success would attend his arms in a war which he was going to undertake, he predicted the greatest calamities; but Calchas, who had been the soothsayer of the Greeks during the Trojan War, promised the greatest successes. Amphilochus followed the opinion of Calchas, but the prediction of Mopsus was fully verified. This had such an effect upon Calchas that he died soon after. His death is attributed by sources used by John Tzetzes to another mortification of the same nature: in this case, the two soothsayers, jealous of each other's fame, came to a different trial of their skill in divination. Calchas first asked his antagonist how many figs a neighboring tree bore; ten thousand and one, replied Mopsus. The figs were gathered, and his answer was found to be true. Mopsus now, to try his adversary, asked him how many young ones a certain pregnant sow would bring forth, and at what time. Calchas confessed his inability to answer, whereupon Mopsus declared that she would be delivered on the morrow, and would bring forth ten young ones, of which only one would be a male. The morrow proved the veracity of his prediction, and Calchas died through the grief which his defeat produced. [3] Amphilochus subsequently having occasion to visit Argos, entrusted the sovereign power to Mopsus, to keep it for him during the space of a year. On his return, however, Mopsus refused to restore to him the kingdom, [4] whereupon, having quarreled, they engaged and slew each other. [5] According to another legend reported by Tzetzes, [6] he was slain by Herakles.
Mopsus was venerated as founder in several cities of Pamphylia and the Cilician plain, among them Mopsuestia, "the house ( hestia ) of Mopsus" in Cilicia, and Mallos, where he quarreled with his co-founder Amphilochus and both were buried in tumuli, from which neither could see that of the other. At Mopsucrene, the "spring of Mopsus", he had an oracular site. [7]
A bilingual (Hittite–Phoenician) inscription and a Hittitic tablet found in Turkey are independent non-Greek sources on Mopsos and the migration of Greeks in Asia Minor. According to these sources, the actions of Mopsos can be dated to 1245–1230 BC. [8]
In Greek mythology, Celaeno referred to several different figures.
In Greek mythology, Phoroneus was a culture-hero of the Argolid, fire-bringer, law giver, and primordial king of Argos.
Mopsus was the name of one of two famous seers in Greek mythology; his rival being Calchas. A historical or legendary Mopsos or Mukšuš may have been the founder of a house in power at widespread sites in the coastal plains of Pamphylia and Cilicia during the early Iron Age.
In Greek mythology, Ampyx or Ampycus was the name of the following figures:
Elymus was the supposed Trojan ancestor of the Elymians (Ἔλυμοι), an indigenous people of Sicily, in Greek and Roman legend.
In Greek mythology, Podalirius or Podaleirius or Podaleirios was a son of Asclepius.
In Greek mythology, there were several people named Melanippus :
Dia, in ancient Greek religion and folklore, may refer to:
In Greek mythology, Lycaon was a king of Arcadia who, in the most popular version of the myth, killed and cooked his son Nyctimus and served him to Zeus, to see whether the god was sufficiently all-knowing to recognize human flesh. Disgusted, Zeus transformed Lycaon into a wolf, while Nyctimus was restored to life.
Lycus is the name of multiple people in Greek mythology:
In Greek mythology, Heleus or Heleius, also Helius (Ἕλιος), was a Mycenaean prince.
In Greek mythology, Haemon or Haimon may refer to the following personages and a creature:
In Greek mythology, the name Caucon may refer to:
In Greek mythology, the name Orchomenus may refer to:
In Greek mythology, the name Hyperochus may refer to:
In Greek mythology, Cycnus or Cygnus was the king of the town of Kolonai in the southern Troad.
In Greek mythology, Mopsus, was the Lapith son of Ampyx and a nymph, born at Titaressa in Thessaly, was also a seer and augur. In Thessaly the place name Mopsion recalled his own. The earliest evidence of him is inscribed on the strap of a soldier's shield, found at Olympia and dated c.600–575 BC.
In Greek mythology, Parthenope may refer to the following personages:
In Greek mythology, Teleboas may refer to the following figures:
In Greek mythology, Dercynus was a son of Poseidon and brother of Alebion (Ialebion). The two brothers engaged into battle with Heracles at Liguria of North-Western Italy. This version was mentioned in Aeschylus' play Promētheus Lyomenos, now lost. In some sources, Dercynus was named as Ligys and Bergion (Βεργίων) or Beergios.