In Greek mythology, Mopsus (/ˈmɒpsəs/; Ancient Greek: Μόψος, Mopsos), was the Lapith son of Ampyx and a nymph (sometimes named as Chloris^[1] and sometimes named Aregonis^[2]), born at Titaressa in Thessaly, was also a seer and augur. In Thessaly the place name Mopsion recalled his own.^[3] The earliest evidence of him is inscribed on the strap of a soldier's shield, found at Olympia and dated c.600–575 BC.^[4]

Mythology

This Mopsus was one of two seers among the Argonauts,^[5] and was said to understand the language of birds, having learned augury from Apollo. He had competed at the funeral-games for Jason's father^[6] and was among the Lapiths who fought the Centaurs. While fleeing across the Libyan desert from angry sisters of the slain Gorgon Medusa, Mopsus died from the bite of a viper that had grown from a drop of Medusa's blood. Medea was unable to save him, even by magical means. The Argonauts buried him with a monument by the sea, and a temple was later erected on the site.^[7]

Ovid places him also at the hunt of the Calydonian Boar, although the hunt occurred after the Argonauts' return and Mopsus' supposed death.^[8]