Opis was a king of the Messapians. Opis reigned during the first half of the 5th century BC and participated in the Iapygian-Tarentine Wars.

Military activities

A decade after the catastrophic defeat of

Taras Taras may refer to: Geography * Taras (ancient city) of Magna Graecia, modern-day Taranto * Taras, Iran, a village in Tehran province * Taras, Łódź Voivodeship, Poland * Taraš, a village in Vojvodina, Serbia * Taras, Kazakhstan, a village in ...

Kailia ''Kailia'' is a genus of trilobites in the order Phacopida (family Encrinuridae) that existed during the lower Silurian in what is now China. It was described by W. Zhang in 1974, and the type species is ''Kailia quadrisulcata''. The type local ...

in 473 BC, the Tarentines were set for battle, this time perhaps on their own terms near the

Iapygian The Iapygians or Apulians (; el, Ἰάπυγες, ''Ĭāpyges''; la, Iāpyges, Iapygii, Umbrian ''Iabuscer'') were an Indo-European-speaking people, dwelling in an eponymous region of the southeastern Italian Peninsula named Iapygia (modern Ap ...

city of Hyria. In 460 BC the Tarentines, apparently confident enough in their own numbers to match up against an Iapygian force alone, were opposed by a much smaller enemy than the massive army brought against Taras thirteen years earlier. Opis had come to aid the

Peucetians The Peucetians ( grc, Πευκέτιοι, Peukétioi; la, Peucetii; later also grc, Ποίδικλοι, Poidikloi, links=no; la, Poediculi, links=no) were an Iapygian tribe which inhabited western and central Apulia in classical antiquity. Tw ...

in the battle but this time the colonial Greek hoplites, backed again by a formidable cavalry arm, proved superior to the Iapygians. In the decisive battle Opis himself was killed. This battle was a fairly even match-up of armored troops, the Peucetians had about 3,000 men and Opis' army numbered some 4,000 spearmen. This victory ended Tarentine conflicts with the Iapygians for a full generation. Opis is only known from Tarentine dedications at

Delphi Delphi (; ), in legend previously called Pytho (Πυθώ), in ancient times was a sacred precinct that served as the seat of Pythia, the major oracle who was consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient classical world. The oracle ...

. In a group of statues, Taras celebrates its victory over Opis and the Peucetians. Pausanias (10.10.6.)

References

External links

* Illyrian royalty 5th-century BC rulers Ancient Italian history {{europe-royal-stub