A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

101 2 MELAMPUS. MELAMPUS.
The Editio Princeps of'Pomponius Mela ap- vi. 48), by whom'he became the father of Mantius
peared at Milan, in 4to. 1471, without any printer's and Antiphates (Hom. Od. xv. 225, &c.). Apol-:name. Numerous editions were published before lodorus (i. 9. ~ 13) adds a son, Abas; and Diodorus
the end of the fifteenth century, but the text first calls his children Bias, Antiphates, Manto, and
-began to assume an improved appearance in those Pronoe (comp. Paus. vi. 17. ~ 4). Melampus at
superintended by Vadianus, fol. Vienn. 1518, and first dwelt with Neleus at Pylus, afterwards he
fol. Basil. 1522, especially in the second. Further resided for a time at Phylace, near Mount Othrys,
emendations were introduced by Vinetus, 4to. with Phylacus and Iphiclus, and at last ruled over
Paris, 1572; by Schottus, 4to. Antv. 1582; but a third of the territory of Argos (Hom. I. c.). At
the great restorers of this author were Vossius, 4to. Aegosthena, in the north-western part of Megaris,
Hag. Com. 1658; Jac. Gronovius, 8vo. Lug. Bat. he had a sanctuary and a statue, and an annual
1685, 1696; and Abr. Gronovius, Lug. Bat. 8vo. festival was there celebrated in his honour. (Paus.
1722, and especially 1728. This last edition'gives i. 44. ~ 8.)
a completely new recension, and remained the With regard to his having introduced the worstandard until superseded by that of Tzschuckius, ship of Dionysus into Greece, Herodotus (ii. 49)
7 parts, 8vo. Lips. 1807, which is executed with thinks that Melampus became acquainted with the
the greatest care, presents us with the labours of worship of the Egyptian Dionysus, through Cadmus
former critics in their best form, is enriched by the and the Phoenicians, and his connection with the
collation of several new MSS., contains an ample Dionysiac religion is often alluded to in the ancient.collection of the most valuable commentaries, and writers. Thus, we are told, for example, that he
supplies everything which either the scholar or the taught the Greeks how to mix wine with water
student can require. We have an old translation (Athen. ii. p. 45; Eustath. ad lHom. p. 1816).
into English: "The rare and singular Work of Diodorus (i. 97) further adds that Melampus
*Pomponius Mela, that excellent and worthy Cos- brought with him from Egypt the myths about
mographer, of the Situation of the World, most Cronos and the fight of the Titans. As regards
orderly prepared, and divided every parte by its his prophetic power, his residence at Phylace, and
selfe: with the Longitude and Latitude of everie his ultimate rule over a portion of -Argos, the folKingdome, Regent, Province, Rivers; &cc. Where- lowing traditions were current in antiquity.' When
-unto is added, that learned Worke of Julius Solinus Melampus lived with Neleus, he dwelt outside
Polyhtistor, with a necessarie Table for this Booke; the town of Pylos, and before his house there
right pleasant and profitable for Gentlemen, Mer- stood an oak tree containing a serpent's nest. The
chaunts, Mariners, and Travellers. Translated old serpents were killed by his servants, and burnt
into Englyshe by Arthur Geolding, Gent." 4to. by Melampus himself, who reared the young ones.
Leond. The Mela was first published in 1585, One day, when they had grown up, and Melamnpus
the Solinus in 1587, and then both were bound was asleep, they approached from both sides and
up in one volume, and reissued with the above cleaned his ears with their tongues. Being thus
title in 1590. There is a translation into French roused from his sleep, he started up, and to his
by C. P. Fradin, 3 vols. 8vo.:Paris, 1804, and surprise perceived that he now understood the lanwith a new title-page 1827; into Italian by Por- guage of birds, and that with their assistance he
eacchi, 8vo. Venet. 1547; and into German by could foretell the future. In addition to'this he
J. C. Dietz, 8vo. Giessen, -1774, which is said to acquired the power of prophesying, from the victims
be very bad. (Bsihr, Gesch. der RMm. Litterat. that were offered to the gods, and, after having had
~ 362, 3d ed.) [W. R.] an interview with Apollo on the banks of the
MELAENEUS (MeAtvews), a son of Lycaon, Alpheius, he became a most renowned soothsayer
who is said to have built the Arcadian town of (Apollod. i. 9. ~ 11; Eustath. ad Hom. p. 1685).
Melaeneae. (Paus. viii. 26. ~ 5; Steph. Byz. s. v. During his stay with Neleus it happened that his
MeaevuEai.) [L. S.] brother Bias was one of the suitors for the hand of
MELAENIS (MeXawlis), i. e. the dark, a sur- Pero, the daughter-of Neleus, and Neleus promised
name of Aphrodite, under which she was worshipped his daughter to the man who should bring to him
at Corinth. (Paus. ii. 2. ~ 4; comp. viii. 6: ~ 2, ix. as a gift for the maiden, the oxen of Iphiclus, which
17. ~ 4; Athen. xiii. p. 588.) [L. S.] were guarded by a dog whom neither man nor
ME:LA'MPODES (MEXay7rd8-s). 1. A Greek animal could approach. Melampus undertook the
grammarian, the author of a treatise which is still task of procuring the oxen for his brother, although
extant, though unpublished, addressed to Diony- he knew that the thief would be caught and kept
sius the Thracian. (Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. vi. in imprisonment for one whole year, after which he
p. 345.) was to come into possession of the oxen. Things
2. A writer on astrology, the author of an ex- turned out as he had said; Melampus was thrown
tant, though unpublished treatise, entitled Methodus into prison, and in his captivity he learned from
sPraedictionum iLunarirzn. (Fabric. Bibl. G'raec. the wood-worms that the building in which he was
vol. iv. p. 160.): [C. P. M.] would soon break down. He accordingly demanded
MELAMPUS (MeAd,jurovs), a son of Amyihaoli to be let out, and as Phylacus and Iphiclus became
by Eidomene, or according to others, by Aglaia or thus acquainted with his prophetic powers, they
Rhodope (Apollod. i. 9. ~ 1; Died. iv. 68; Schol. asked him in what manner Iphiclus, who had no:/ed Theoct. iii. 43), and a brother of Bias. He -children, was to become father. Melampus, on the
was looked upon by the ancients as the first mortal -suggestion of a vulture, advised Iphiclus to take
that had been endowed with prophetic powers, as the rust from the knife with which Phylacus had'the person tihat first practised the medical art, and once cut his son, and drink it in water during ten
established the'worship of Dionysus in Greece days. This was done, ind Iphiclus became the
(Apollod. ii. 2. ~ 2). lHe is said to have been father of Podarces. Melampus now received the
married to Iphianassa (others call her Iphianeira or oxen as a reward for his good services, and drove:Cyrianassa,-Diod.e iv. 68,; Sery. ad Virg. Eclog. them to Pylos; he thus gained Pero for his brother,