What is "messapus"

Messapus, a character in Virgil's Aeneid, appears in Books VII and IX of the Latin epic poem. He was a famous tamer of horses and king of Etruria, known for being one "whom no one can fell by fire or steel" (Mandelbaum, VII.911-912); perhaps because he is a son of Neptune. Although accustomed to peace, in Book VII Messapus joins forces with Turnus in his battle against Aeneas and the Trojans. In Book IX, which recounts the nighttime raid by Nisus and Euryalus on the Rutulian camp, the battle helmet of Messapus is taken by Euryalus. Light reflected off the stolen helmet, betraying Euryalus to his enemies and leading not only to his own death, but also that of Nisus.

Messapus (, Messapos) was the ninth king of Sicyon in the Peloponnesus according to classical Greek mythography. Writers quoting Castor of Rhodes state that he reigned there for 47 years following Leucippus, and before Eratus.

However, Pausanius omits this king Messapus, alleging that the throne passed directly from Leucippus, who had no male heir, to his grandson Peratus.

According to Strabo, Messapio in Boeotia, and later Messapia in southeastern Italy, derived their names from this Messapus.