In Homer's Iliad a diviner who accompanied the Greek army to Troy. He reveals the reason for the plague on the camp and foretells the length of the war. After Homer he is introduced into several episodes, such as the sacrifice of Iphigenia, the building of the Wooden Horse, and generally the actions by which it was fated that Troy should be captured. An oracle had foretold that Calchas would die when he met a diviner better than himself, and this occurred when he met Mopsus, grandson of Tiresias.
Subjects: Classical Studies.