Messapus

Messapus, (Greek: Μέσσαπος, Messapos) a character in Virgil's Aeneid, appears in Books VII to XII of the Latin epic poem.

He was a son of Neptune, 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).

[1] Although accustomed to peace, in Book VII Messapus joins forces with Turnus in his battle against Aeneas and the Trojans.

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, eager to stop the duel, charged on horseback towards Etruscan king Aulestes, who tripped and fell onto an altar and pleaded for his life.