Manto (mythology)

There are several distinct figures in Greek mythology named Manto, the most prominent being the daughter of Tiresias. The name Manto derives from Ancient Greek Mantis, "seer, prophet" (PIE *men-, "to think").

Daughter of Tiresias

Manto was the daughter of the prophet Tiresias and mother of Mopsus. Tiresias was a priestess of Hera who was transformed into a male in later myths when Zeus became more dominant, but whose role as a seer and prophet remained. The original tradition of Tiresias as a woman must have been quite strong and since it could never be suppressed completely, was explained as his being able to change from one to the other. Oracles were the domain of priestesses even when a layer of priests was established over them much later, the priestesses remained the prophets at the oracles.

During the War of the Epigoni, a later myth relates, Manto was brought to Delphi as a war prize. Apollo sent her to Colophon to find an oracle devoted to him. She married Rhacius and gave birth to Mopsus (although by some accounts Apollo was the father). According to Apollodorus, she had two children by Alcmaeon, Amphilochus and Tisiphone. In Roman myth, Manto went to Italy and gave birth to Ocnus (father: Tiberinus, the genius of the river Tiber). Ocnus founded Mantua and named it after his mother.

It was said that Manto's abilities in prophecy were much greater and exceeded that of her father's.

Daughter of Heracles

Manto was also described in late myths as a daughter of Heracles. A myth claims that Mantua was named after her (Servius on Virgil, Aeneid X, 199).

Daughter of Polyidus

Another Manto was a daughter of the seer Polyidus. She and her sister Astycrateia were brought to Megara by their father, who came there to cleanse Alcathous for the murder of his son Callipolis. The tomb of the two sisters was shown at Megara in later times. (Pausanias, Description of Greece, 1. 43. 5)

Daughter of Melampus

Manto was also the name of a daughter of another famous seer, Melampus. Her mother was Iphianeira, daughter of Megapenthes, and her siblings were Antiphates, Bias and Pronoe. (Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, 4. 68. 5)

Sources

• Virgil. Eclogae ix.59-60.
• Isidore. Etymologai xv.1.59.
• Statius. Thebais iv.463-468, x.597-603.
• Pomponius Mela. De chorographia i.88.