Mopsus
Celebrated seer and Argonaut who could read the future in the flight of birds
The Legend of Mopsus
Mopsus was a Lapith seer and the son of Ampycus, renowned for his ability to divine the future by observing the flight and behaviour of birds. He joined the Argonauts as their augur after the death of Idmon, providing prophetic guidance during the return voyage. Mopsus could interpret every omen sent by the gods, from the patterns of bird flight to the behaviour of animals. He guided the crew through difficult decisions with his readings. Mopsus died in Libya, bitten by a venomous serpent that lurked in the desert sands. Despite his prophetic gifts, he could not foresee the snake hidden in his path. The Argonauts buried him in the Libyan sand with great sorrow. A later seer named Mopsus was famous for defeating the prophet Calchas in a contest of divination, causing Calchas to die of shame.
Parents
Ampycus
Symbols
Fun Fact
Mopsus could read the future in bird flight but failed to foresee the venomous snake that killed him in Libya
Explore Further
Halitherses
🗡 heroNone recorded
Elderly Ithacan prophet who interpreted bird omens and supported Telemachus
Ennomos
🗡 heroAugury, Mysian leadership
Mysian commander and augur who led his people to Troy despite reading his own doom in the omens
Polyidus
🗡 heroProphecy, Resurrection, Crete
Argive seer who found and resurrected the drowned prince Glaucus of Crete using a herb he observed a serpent use.
Mopsus the Lapith
🗡 heroProphecy, Argonauts, Serpent Death
Lapith seer who sailed with the Argonauts and died of a serpent bite in Libya on the return journey.
Melampus
🗡 heroNone recorded
The first mortal prophet in Greek tradition who gained the ability to understand the speech of animals after serpents licked his ears clean
Teiresias
🗡 heroBlind prophet of Thebes
Tiresias was the blind seer of Thebes who experienced life as both man and woman, was blinded by the gods, and compensated with the gift of prophecy.
Asbolus
🗡 heroProphecy, centaurs
Centaur seer who read omens in the flight of birds and warned his kin against fighting Heracles
Phineus
🗡 heroprophecy, punishment
A blind Thracian king and prophet punished by Zeus for revealing divine secrets, tormented by Harpies until rescued by the Argonauts.
Idmon
🗡 heroprophecy, sacrifice
A seer among the Argonauts who foresaw his own death on the voyage but sailed anyway, embodying the Greek ideal of knowingly accepting fate.
Tiresias
🗡 heroBlind prophet of Thebes
The most famous seer in Greek mythology, blinded by the gods but given the gift of prophecy in compensation. Tiresias advised kings and heroes across multiple generations.
Calchas
🗡 heroprophecy
Chief seer of the Greek army at Troy who interpreted omens, demanded Iphigenia's sacrifice, and foretold the war's length.
Mopsus
🗡 heroprophecy
Son of Manto and grandson of Tiresias who defeated the great seer Calchas in a divination contest, causing Calchas to die.