
Pompilus (Ancient Greek:Πομπίλος,romanized: Pompilos,lit. 'pilot fish') is a minor character inGreek mythology who incurred the wrath of the godApollo when he foiled the god's plans as he was chasing the nymphOcyrhoë.
During a festival in honour ofArtemis in the city ofMiletus, in westernAsia Minor, the godApollo became infatuated withOcyrhoë, a young Samian nymph, daughter of a local river god inSamos. Apollo chased Ocyrhoë, but she ran away from him. Finally she reached the shore and there she ran into Pompilus, a seafarer and old family friend of her fatherImbrasos. Pompilus agreed to let her board his boat, and transferred her to the nearby island of Samos.[1]
But as they reached the coast of Samos, they found Apollo waiting for them in there. Apollo grabbed Ocyrhoë and turned Pompilus into apilot fish as a punishment for trying to sabotage his plans.[2] Both authors who mention this tale,Athenaeus andClaudius Aelianus, quote second century BC authorApollonius of Rhodes.