Messapus

Messapus,(Greek:Μέσσαπος,Messapos) a character inVirgil'sAeneid,appears in Books VII to XII of theLatin epic poem.He was a son ofNeptune,a famous tamer of horses, and king ofEtruria,known for being one "whom no one can fell by fire or steel" (Mandelbaum, VII.911-912).^[1]

Narrative

Although accustomed to peace, in Book VII Messapus joins forces withTurnusin his battle againstAeneasand theTrojans.Book VIII lists him as one of Turnus' chief captains, along withUfensandMezentius.

In Book IX, which recounts the nighttime raid byNisus and Euryaluson theRutuliancamp, the battle helmet of Messapus is taken byEuryalus.Light reflected off the stolen helmet, betrayingEuryalusto his enemies and leading not only to his own death, but also that ofNisus.

Messapus fought in battle in Book X, killingClonius,andEricetesson ofLycaon.In Book XI, he led a cavalry charge alongsideCorasandCamilla.

Book XII again lists Messapus as one of the captains of the armies, described as "brilliant in gold and purple". He threw a spear atAeneas,taking the top off his helmet, and enraging him. At the height of the battle, Messapus andAtinasalone held the Rutulian line at the gates ofLaurentum.A truce was called for Turnus and Aeneas to fight in single combat, but the Rutulians break the truce. Messapus, eager to stop the duel, charged on horseback towardsEtruscankingAulestes,who tripped and fell onto an altar and pleaded for his life. Messapus stabbed him with his spear, saying "He's had it, this nobler victim given to the mighty gods!"

Inspiration

Virgil adapted a myth fromGreek poetryto create Messapus, namely theGreek mythologicalfigureCycnus,who was a son ofPoseidon.Virgil also "borrowed" the property ofinvulnerabilityfrom Cycnus and attributed it to Messapus.^[2]

References

^The Aeneid of Virgil.Translated by Mandelbaum, Allen. New York: Bantam Books. 1971. p. 183.ISBN 0-553-21041-6.
^O'Hara, James J. (1989)."Messapus, Cycnus, and the Alphabetical Order of Vergil's Catalogue of Italian Heroes".Phoenix.43(1). Classical Association of Canada: 37.ISSN 0031-8299.JSTOR 1088539.

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[1] The Aeneid of Virgil.Translated by Mandelbaum, Allen. New York: Bantam Books. 1971. p. 183.ISBN 0-553-21041-6.

[O'Hara-2] O'Hara, James J. (1989)."Messapus, Cycnus, and the Alphabetical Order of Vergil's Catalogue of Italian Heroes".Phoenix.43(1). Classical Association of Canada: 37.ISSN 0031-8299.JSTOR 1088539.

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