A son of Melampus at Argos and brother of Antiphates, Mantius fathered Polypheides — whom Apollo made the greatest mortal seer after Amphiaraus died.1
Homer names him in the same breath as Antiphates when Telemachus' companion Theoclymenus traces his lineage. After Melampus won horse-pasturing Argos, wedded a wife, and built a house, he begot Antiphates and Mantius; Antiphates begot Oicles and so Amphiaraus, while Mantius begot Polypheides and Cleitus.2
Apollo made Polypheides a prophet surpassing all mortals once Amphiaraus lay dead at Thebes, but the son grew wroth with Mantius and removed to Hyperesia, where he dwelt and begot Theoclymenus. Cleitus, Mantius' other son, did not grow old among men: Eos the Dawn, enthroned in gold, snatched him for his beauty.3
Apollodorus recounts the same Melampodid catalogue from Melampus and Bias through the Argive cures and throne, placing Mantius in the generation that branches the house toward both Amphiaraus and the later seers who would read omens for Telemachus.4
⁂
the spine ignites as you read · hover a bond on the card — every mention of them lights in the story