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Mopsus

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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in Greek legend, the name of two seers. (I) Son of Ampyx (or Ampycus) and the nymph Chloris, a Lapith of Oechalia in Thessaly. He took part in the Calydonian boar hunt and accompanied the Argonauts as their prophet. He died from the bite of a serpent which sprang from the blood of the Gorgon Medusa. He is represented on the chest of Cypselus as boxing with Admetus. He was afterwards worshipped as a hero and an oracle was consecrated to him. (2) Son of Rhacius (or Apollo) and Manto, daughter of Teiresias. The rival seer Calchas is said to have died of chagrin because the predictions of Mopsus were fulfilled, while his own proved incorrect. Together with another seer, Amphilochus, Mopsus founded Mallus in Cilicia after the return from Troy; and in a quarrel for its possession both lost their lives. According to Pausanias (vii. 3, 2) Mopsus expelled the native inhabitants of Caria, and built the town of Colophon. Mopsus was worshipped as a god by the Cilicians, and had two famous oracles at Colophon and Mallus. His name survives in the town of Mopsuestia (M6 tov `E rria) and the spring of Mopsucrene. Mopsus appears to be the incarnation of Apollo of Claros.