156, 157, Dexippus,
represents him as breaking out into violent in- ap.
represents him as breaking out into violent in- ap.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - b
i.
9.
§ 1; Apollon.
Rhod.
ii.
his own friends remained without effect.
At
1158 ; Schol. ad Pind. Pyth. iv. 221. )
length, however, he yielded to the prayers of his
4. A son of Porthaon and Euryte, and brother wife, Cleopatra: he put the Curetes to flight, but
of Oeneus. (Hom. Il. xiv. 117; Apollod. i. 7. $ never returned home, for the Erinnys, who had
10 ; comp. OeNeus and TYDEUS. )
heard the curse of his mother, overtook him. (Hom.
5. A son of Antassus, at Gonusa, near Sicyon. N. ix. 527—600; comp. ii. 641. ) The post-
He joined the Dorians on their march against Homeric accourt gives a different cause of his
Corinth. His services were at first declined, but death. When Meleager was seven days old, it is
he was afterwards allowed to fight in the ranks of said, the Moerae appeared, declaring that the boy
the Dorians. He was the ancestor of the family would die as soon as the piece of wood that was
of Cypselus. (Paus. ii. 4. & 4, v. 18. & 7, 20, in burning on the hearth should be consumed. When
fin. )
Althaea heard this, she extinguished the firebrand,
There are three other mythical personages of and concealed it in a chest. Meleager himself be-
this name. (Paus, vii. 4. § 6, viii. 28. & 3; came invulnerable ; but after he had killed the
Apollod. ii. 7. & 7. )
(L. S. ] brothers of his mother, she lighted the piece of
MELEA'GER (Menéaypos), a son of Oeneus wood, and Meleager died, whereupon Althaea and
(whence he is called Oivetdns), and Althaea, the Cleopatra hung themselves. (Apollod. i. 8. § 2,
daughter of Thestius, and was married to Cleopatra, &c. ; Hygin. Fub. 171 ; Diod. iv. 34 ; Ov. Met.
by whom he became the father of Polydora. viii. 450, &c. , 531. ) The sisters of Meleager
(Apollod. i. 8. $ 2; Paus. iv. 2 in fin. ; Orph. wept unceasingly after his death, until Artemis
Argon. 157. ) Other accounts call Meleager a son changed them into guinea-hens (Med eaypides),
of Ares, by Althaea (Plut. Parall. Min. 26 ; Ov. who were transferred to the island of Leros. Even
Met. viii. 437 ; Hygin. Fab. 17? ); and Hyginus in this condition they moumed during a certain
calls Parthenopaeus a son of Meleager. (Fab. 99, part of the year for their brother. Two of them,
270. ) His brothers and sisters were Phereus or Gorge and Deianeira, through the mediation of
Thyreus, Agelaus, Toxeus, Periphas, Gorge, Eury- Dionysus, were not metamorphosed. (Anton. Lib.
mede, Deianeira, Melanippe. Meleager is one of 2; Ov. Met. viii. 532, &c. ; Apollod. i. 8. $ 3. )
the most famous Aetolian heroes of Calydon, and The story of Meleager, his hunt of the Calydonian
distinguished himself by his skill in throwing the boar, his contest with the sons of Thestius, and
javelin, as one of the Argonauts, and in the Caly- other scenes of his life, were frequently represented
donian hunt. Thus he gained the victory at the by ancient artists. (Paus. iii. 18. $ 9, viü. 45, $
ſuneral games of Acastus (Hygin. Fab. 273 ; 4. ) He usually appears as a robust hunter, with
Athen. iv. p. 172); and the spear with which he curly hair, the Aetolian chlamys, and a boar's head.
had slain the Calydonian boar he dedicated in the (Philostr. Icon. 15; comp. Welcker, Zeitschrift
temple of Apollo at Sicyon. (Paus. ii. 7. § 8. ) für die alte Kunst, p. 123, &c. ) (L. S. )
In the expedition of the Argonauts he was said in MELEAGER (Menéaypos). 1. Son of Neoptole-
some legends to have slain Aeetes in the contest for mus, a Macedonian officer of distinction in the service
the golden fleece. (Diod. iv. 48. ) While Mele- of Alexander the Great. He is first mentioned in
ager was at Calydon, Oeneus, the king of the the war against the Getae (B. C. 335); and at the
place, once neglected to offer up a sacrifice to Ar- passage of the Granicus in the following year, we
temis, whereupon the angry goddess sent a mon- find him commanding one of the divisions (táfeus)
strous boar into the fields of Calydon, which were of the phalanx, a post which he afterwards held ap-
ravaged by the beast, while no one had the courage parently throughout the campaigns in Asia He
to hunt it. At length Meleager, with a band of was appointed, together with Coenus and Ptoleny
other heroes, whose number and names are different the son of Seleucus, to command the newly-married
in the different accounts (Apollod. i. 8. $ 2; Ov. troops which were sent home from Caria to spend
let. viii. 300, &c. ; Hygin. Fab. 174 ; Paus. viii. | the winter in Macedonia, and rejoined Alexander at
d
fa
be
of
to
P
b
t
c.
L
1
1
a
## p. 1017 (#1033) ##########################################
MELEAGER.
1017
MELESIPPUS.
Gordium in the following summer (B. C. 333). We 2–4; Arrian, ap. Phot. p. 69, a. ; Diod. xvii.
afterwards find him present at the battles of Issus 2. )
and Arbela ; associated with Craterus in the im- 2. An ilarch or commander of a squadron of
portant task of dislodging the enemy who guarded cavalry in the army of Alexander at the battle of
the passes into Persia ; and again bearing a part in Arbela (Arrian, Anab. iii. 11; Curt. iv. 50. )
the passage of the Hydaspes, and in various other He is certainly distinct from the preceding, and
operations in India (Arrian, Anab. i. 4, 14, 20, 24, is probably the same person whom we afterwards
ii
. 8, iii. 11, 18, v. 12 ; Curt. iii
. 24, v. 14, vii. 27 ; find mentioned among the friends and adherents of
Diod. xvii. 57). But notwithstanding this long Pithon, who participated in his projects of revolt
series of services we do not learn that Alexander against Antigonus, B. C. 316. [Pituon. ) After
promoted him to any higher or more confidential the death of their leader, Melenger and Menoetas
situation, nor do we find him employed in any broke out into open insurrection, but were speedily
separate command of importance. Already, before defeated by Orontobates and Hippostratus, who
the king's death, Meleager had given evidence had been left by Antigonus in the government of
of an insolent and factious disposition, and these Media, and Meleager was slain in the battle.
qualities broke out in their full force during the dis- (Diod. xix. 47. )
cussions which ensued after the death of Alexander. 3. A son of Ptolemy Soter and Eurydice,
His conduct on that occasion is differently related. daughter of Antipater, succeeded his brother Pro-
According to Justin, he was the first to propose in lemy Ceraunus on the throne of Macedonia, after
the council of officers, that either Arrhidaeus or the latter had fallen in battle against the Gauls
Heracles the son of Barsine should at once be (B. C. 280); but was compelled by the Macedonian
chosen king, instead of waiting for the chance of troops to resign the crown, after a reign of only
Roxana bearing a son. Curtius, on the contrary, two months. (Euseb. Arm. pp.
156, 157, Dexippus,
represents him as breaking out into violent in- ap. Syncell. pp. 267, 270. ) His reign is omitted by
vectives against the ambition of Perdiccas, and Justin.
[E. H. B. )
abruptly quitting the assembly, in order to excite MELEA'GER (Menéaypos), son of Eucrates,
the soldiery to a tumult. Diodorus, again, states the celebrated writer and collector of epigrams,
that he was sent by the assembled generals to was a native of Gadara in Palestine, and lived
appease the clamours and discontent of the troops, about B. C. 60. There are 131 of his epigrams in
but instead of doing so he himself joined the the Greek Anthology, written in a good Greek
mutineers. In any case it is certain that Meleager style, though somewhat affected, and distinguished
early assumed the lead of the opposition to Perdic- by sophistic acumen and amatory fancy. (Brunck,
cas and his party ; and placed himself at the head of Anal. vol. i. pp. 1–38 ; Jacobs, Anth. (craec. vol.
the infantry, who had declared themselves (probably i: pp. 1–40, vol. xiii. pp. 639, 698, 915, 916;
at his instigation) in favour of the claims of Arrhi- Fabric
. Bibl. Graec. vol. iv. pp. 416—420. ) Be-
daeus to the vacant throne. Meleager even went 50 sides the various editions of the Greek Anthology,
far as to order the execution of Perdiccas, without there are separate editions of the epigrams of Me
any express authority from his puppet of a king ; leager, for which see Fabricius. An account of his
but this project was disconcerted by the boldness Etépavos, or collection of epigrams, is given under
of the regent: and the greater part of the cavalry, PLANUDES.
[P. S. )
together with almost all the generals, sided with MELES (Méans), an Athenian, who was be-
Perdiccas, and, quitting Babylon, established them- loved by Timagoras, but refused to listen to him,
selves in a separate camp without the walls of the and ordered him to leap from the rock of the acro-
city. Matters thus seemed tending to an open polis. Timagoras, who was only a metoikos at
rupture, but a reconciliation was effected, principally | Athens, did as he was bid; but Meles, repenting
by the intervention of Eumenes, and it was agreed of his cruel command, likewise threw himself from
that the royal authority should be divided between the rock ; and the Athenians from that time are
Arrhidaeus and the expected son of Roxana, and said to have worshipped Anteros, as the avenger
that in the mean time Meleager should be asso- of Timagoras. (Paus. i. 30. $ 1. )
ciated with Perdiccas in the regency.
It was,
Meles is also the god of the river Meles, near
however, evidently impossible that these two should | Smyrna ; and this river-god was believed by some
long continue on really friendly terms, and Me- to have been the father of Homer. (Vit. Script.
leager proved no match for his wily and designing Graec. p. 27, ed. Westermann. )
p.
[L. S. ]
antagonist. Perdiccas contrived by his profound MELES (Méans). 1. Of Colophon, the father
dissimulation, to lull his rival into fancied security, of the poet Polymnestus (Plut. de Mus. p. 1133, a. ).
while he made himself master both of the person 2. Of Athens, the father of the dithyrambic
and the disposition of the imbecile Arrhidaeus, of poet Cinesias, was himself also a dithyrambic poet,
which he immediately took advantage, and hastened and is ranked by Pherecrates as the worst of all
to strike the first blow. The whole army was the citharoedic poets of his day (Schol. ad Aristoph.
assembled under pretence of a general review and Av. 858). Plato also tells us that his performances
lustration, when the king, at the instigation of annoyed the audience (Gorg. p. 502). '. (P. S. ]
Perdiccas, suddenly demanded the surrender and MELESA GORAS. (AMELESAGORAS. )-
punishment of all the leaders in the late disorders. MELESIPPUS (MEAñOITTOS), a Lacedaemo.
The infantry were taken by surprise, and unable to nian, son of Diacritus, was one of the three ambas
offer any resistance ; 300 of the alleged muti- sadors sent to Athens in B. C. 432, just before the
neers were singled out, and instantly executed ; commencement of the Peloponnesian war, with the
and though Meleager himself was not personally final demand of Lacedaemon for the restoration of
attacked, he deemed it necessary to provide for his the independence of all the Greek states. By the
safety by flight, and took refuge in a temple, where advice of Pericles, the Athenians refused compli-
he was quickly pursued and put to death by order ance. In the following year, when Archidamus
of Perdiccas. . (Curt. 1. 21-29; Justin. xii. was on his march to invade Attica, be again sent
>
## p. 1018 (#1034) ##########################################
1018
MELETIUS.
MELETIUS.
Не еn
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Toura!
Pat's
pranie
Gaia
Jorian
Toli
Lecce
to bir
on F
agre
day.
Me
by FL
Ensta
Espre
Great
(Secte
9;s
jr. 13
Greg
Epatos
Atin
Epipl
Melesippus to Athens, in the hope of effecting aſ the church, to his native country, Melitene, while
Degotiation; but the Athenians would not even Euzoius was appointed bishop of Antioch in his
admit him to a hearing. (Thuc. i. 139—145, ii. room (A. D. 361). This step led to an immediate
12. )
(E. E. ) and extensive schism : the orthodox party broke
ME'LETE (Menéan), the name of one of the off from the communion of the Arians, and met in
Muses. (Pausanias, ix. 29. § 2 ; compare Mu- the church of the Apostles, in what was called the
SAE. )
[L. S. ] old town of Antioch. There had been a previous
MELETIUS (MEMÉTLOS), literary and ecclesias- secession of the more zealous part of the orthodox
tical.
on occasion of the deposition of Eustathius (A. D.
1. Of Antioch, an eminent Greek ecclesiastic | 331), but the two seceding bodies remained separate,
of the fourth century. He was born at Melitene, the Eustathians objecting that Meletius had been or-
near the right bank of the Euphrates, in the dis- dained by Arians. On the accession of the emperor
trict of Melitene, in Armenia Minor. His parents Julian Meletius returned to Antioch (A. D. 362),
were persons of rank, at least of respectable condi- I and the most earnest endeavours were made to ns
tion (Gregor. Nyssen. Oratio hubit. in funere concile the two sections of the orthodox party : but
Meletii), and he probably inherited from them an though the death of Eustathius seemed to present
estate which he possessed in Armenia (Basil. a fair opportunity for such reconciliation, all the
Epist. 187, editt. vett. , 99, ed. Benedict. ) His efforts made were frustrated by the intemperate
gentleness of disposition, general excellence of cha- zeal of Lucifer of Cugliari (LUCIFER), who ordained
racter, and persuasive eloquence, acquired for him Paulinus bishop of the Eustathians. Meanwhile,
a high reputation : but his first bishopric, that of the Arians appear to have retained possession of
Sebaste, in Armenia, in which he succeeded Eus- most of the churches, the orthodox having one or
tathius (EustathIUS, No. 7), apparently after two assigned for their use, of which, however, on
the latter had been deposed in the council of Meli- the accession of the emperor Valens, they were de
tene (A. n. 357), proved so troublesome, through prived, and Meletius was again (A. D. 365? ) ba-
the contumacy of his people, that he withdrew nished from the city. According to Tillemont, who
from his charge and retired to Beroes, now Aleppo grounds his assertion on two passages of Gregory
• in Syria, of which city, according to one rendering of Nyssen (ibid. ), Meletius was twice banished under
a doubtful expression in Socrates, he became bishop. Valens, or three times in all, which supposes
The East was at this time torn with the Arian contro- a return from his first banishment under that
versy ; but the character of Meletius won the respect prince. Gregory's assertion, however, is not eor-
of both parties, and each appears to have regarded roborated by any of the ecclesiastical bistorians ;
him as belonging to them, a result promoted by and we have no means of determining the dates of
his dwelling, in his discourses, on practical rather Meletius's return and subsequent exile, if they
than polemical subjects. According to Philostor- really took place. Tillemont thinks he was recalled
gius he feigned himself an Arian, and subscribed in A. D. 367 at latest, and places his last banish-
the Confession of the Western bishops, probably ment in A. D. 371. During his exile his party
that of Ariminum ; and, according to Socrates, he were directed by Flavian and Diodorus. (Fla-
subscribed the creed of the Acacians, at Seleuceia VIANUS, No. 1 ; DIODORUS, No. 3. ) He was
in a. D. 359. These concurrent testimonies fix on recalled on the death of Valens A. D. 378, but the
him the charge either of instability or dissimulation. edict of Gratian, wbich recalled all those who were
Still his real tendency to the Hoinoousian doctrine in exile, allowed the Arians (who had chosen Do-
was known to or suspected by many ; and, there- rotheus their bishop in the room of Euzoius, now
fore, when, by the influence of Acacius and the deceased) to retain the churches which they occu-
Arians, he was appointed to the see of Antioch pied ; however they were after a time delivered
(A. D. 360 or 361), all the bishops, clergy, and up to Meletius, who again manifested his anxiety
people of the city and neighbourhood, Arians and to heal the schism between his own party and the
Orthodox, went out to meet him. Even the Jews Eustathians ; but his equitable offers were rejected
and Heathens flocked to see a person who had al- by his more tenacious rival Paulinus. In A. D.
ready attained so great celebrity. For a time, but 381 Meletius was at Constantinople at the second
apparently a very short time, he confined himself general council, and died in that city during its
to practical subjects, avoiding or speaking ambi- session. His body was conveyed with great honour
guously on the doctrines in dispute between the to Antioch, and deposited close to the tomb of the
contending parties, but presently gave more open martyr Babylas. His funeral oration, pronounced
indications of his adherence to the orthodox party. | by Gregory Nyssen, is extant. There is no reason
It was probably to draw out his sentiments more to doubt the truth of the encomiums bestowed on
distinctly that he was desired by the emperor the gentleness of his temper and general kindness
Constantius to give an exposition of the passage, of his disposition: that these very qualities, com-
Prov. viii. 22. [GEORGIUS, No. 29. ] He was bined perhaps with indifference to the points in
preceded in the pulpit by George of Laodiceia and dispute, rendered him more pliant in the earlier
by Acacius of Caesareia, who gave explanations part of his life than was consistent with strict in-
more or less heterodox; and when Meletius in his tegrity, at least with consistency. But from the
turn came to speak, and avowed his adherence to time of his elevation to the see of Antioch, there is
the orthodox doctrine, a scene of great excitement no need to doubt bis consistent adherence to what
ensued, the people applauding, and the Arians he judged to be the truth. In the Western church,
among the clergy, especially the archdeacon, at- indeed, which fraternized with the ultra party of
tempting to stop his mouth. Determined now to the Eustathians, his reputation was lower : he was
get rid of him, the Arians charged him with Sa- regarded as an Arian, and it was long before the
bellianism, and persuaded the emperor to depose imputation was removed. A short piece, ascribed
him and banish him, apparently on a charge either to Athanasius, and published with his works (vol.
of perjury or of having violated the discipline of | . i. p. 30, ed. Benedict. ), but the genuineness of
Tiller
Hist,
1740-
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2.
3
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forni
## p. 1019 (#1035) ##########################################
MELETIUS.
1019
MELETIUS.
which is very doubtful, charges him with hypocrisy. | (which left him the title of bishop, though it de-
He enjoyed the friendship of Basil and other lead- prived him of the power to ordain) would have
ing men of the orthodox party. Epiphanius bas dealt so leniently with him. The Council allowed
spoken favourably of him, but Jerome is less fa- those whom he had ordained to retain the priestly
vourable, owing, probably, to his connection with office, on condition of re-ordination, and of their
Paulinus. A part of the first sermon preached by 1 yielding precedence to those whose first ordination
Meletius at Antioch has been preserved by Epi- had been regular. The schism begun in prison
phanius, and is given in the Bibliotheca Patrum of was continued in the mines of Phaenon, in Arabia
Galland, vol. v. A synodical epistle to the emperor | Petraea, to which Meletius and others were ba-
Jovian, given by Socrates (H. E. iii. 25), and So- nished, and after their release. Meletius ordained
zomen (H.
1158 ; Schol. ad Pind. Pyth. iv. 221. )
length, however, he yielded to the prayers of his
4. A son of Porthaon and Euryte, and brother wife, Cleopatra: he put the Curetes to flight, but
of Oeneus. (Hom. Il. xiv. 117; Apollod. i. 7. $ never returned home, for the Erinnys, who had
10 ; comp. OeNeus and TYDEUS. )
heard the curse of his mother, overtook him. (Hom.
5. A son of Antassus, at Gonusa, near Sicyon. N. ix. 527—600; comp. ii. 641. ) The post-
He joined the Dorians on their march against Homeric accourt gives a different cause of his
Corinth. His services were at first declined, but death. When Meleager was seven days old, it is
he was afterwards allowed to fight in the ranks of said, the Moerae appeared, declaring that the boy
the Dorians. He was the ancestor of the family would die as soon as the piece of wood that was
of Cypselus. (Paus. ii. 4. & 4, v. 18. & 7, 20, in burning on the hearth should be consumed. When
fin. )
Althaea heard this, she extinguished the firebrand,
There are three other mythical personages of and concealed it in a chest. Meleager himself be-
this name. (Paus, vii. 4. § 6, viii. 28. & 3; came invulnerable ; but after he had killed the
Apollod. ii. 7. & 7. )
(L. S. ] brothers of his mother, she lighted the piece of
MELEA'GER (Menéaypos), a son of Oeneus wood, and Meleager died, whereupon Althaea and
(whence he is called Oivetdns), and Althaea, the Cleopatra hung themselves. (Apollod. i. 8. § 2,
daughter of Thestius, and was married to Cleopatra, &c. ; Hygin. Fub. 171 ; Diod. iv. 34 ; Ov. Met.
by whom he became the father of Polydora. viii. 450, &c. , 531. ) The sisters of Meleager
(Apollod. i. 8. $ 2; Paus. iv. 2 in fin. ; Orph. wept unceasingly after his death, until Artemis
Argon. 157. ) Other accounts call Meleager a son changed them into guinea-hens (Med eaypides),
of Ares, by Althaea (Plut. Parall. Min. 26 ; Ov. who were transferred to the island of Leros. Even
Met. viii. 437 ; Hygin. Fab. 17? ); and Hyginus in this condition they moumed during a certain
calls Parthenopaeus a son of Meleager. (Fab. 99, part of the year for their brother. Two of them,
270. ) His brothers and sisters were Phereus or Gorge and Deianeira, through the mediation of
Thyreus, Agelaus, Toxeus, Periphas, Gorge, Eury- Dionysus, were not metamorphosed. (Anton. Lib.
mede, Deianeira, Melanippe. Meleager is one of 2; Ov. Met. viii. 532, &c. ; Apollod. i. 8. $ 3. )
the most famous Aetolian heroes of Calydon, and The story of Meleager, his hunt of the Calydonian
distinguished himself by his skill in throwing the boar, his contest with the sons of Thestius, and
javelin, as one of the Argonauts, and in the Caly- other scenes of his life, were frequently represented
donian hunt. Thus he gained the victory at the by ancient artists. (Paus. iii. 18. $ 9, viü. 45, $
ſuneral games of Acastus (Hygin. Fab. 273 ; 4. ) He usually appears as a robust hunter, with
Athen. iv. p. 172); and the spear with which he curly hair, the Aetolian chlamys, and a boar's head.
had slain the Calydonian boar he dedicated in the (Philostr. Icon. 15; comp. Welcker, Zeitschrift
temple of Apollo at Sicyon. (Paus. ii. 7. § 8. ) für die alte Kunst, p. 123, &c. ) (L. S. )
In the expedition of the Argonauts he was said in MELEAGER (Menéaypos). 1. Son of Neoptole-
some legends to have slain Aeetes in the contest for mus, a Macedonian officer of distinction in the service
the golden fleece. (Diod. iv. 48. ) While Mele- of Alexander the Great. He is first mentioned in
ager was at Calydon, Oeneus, the king of the the war against the Getae (B. C. 335); and at the
place, once neglected to offer up a sacrifice to Ar- passage of the Granicus in the following year, we
temis, whereupon the angry goddess sent a mon- find him commanding one of the divisions (táfeus)
strous boar into the fields of Calydon, which were of the phalanx, a post which he afterwards held ap-
ravaged by the beast, while no one had the courage parently throughout the campaigns in Asia He
to hunt it. At length Meleager, with a band of was appointed, together with Coenus and Ptoleny
other heroes, whose number and names are different the son of Seleucus, to command the newly-married
in the different accounts (Apollod. i. 8. $ 2; Ov. troops which were sent home from Caria to spend
let. viii. 300, &c. ; Hygin. Fab. 174 ; Paus. viii. | the winter in Macedonia, and rejoined Alexander at
d
fa
be
of
to
P
b
t
c.
L
1
1
a
## p. 1017 (#1033) ##########################################
MELEAGER.
1017
MELESIPPUS.
Gordium in the following summer (B. C. 333). We 2–4; Arrian, ap. Phot. p. 69, a. ; Diod. xvii.
afterwards find him present at the battles of Issus 2. )
and Arbela ; associated with Craterus in the im- 2. An ilarch or commander of a squadron of
portant task of dislodging the enemy who guarded cavalry in the army of Alexander at the battle of
the passes into Persia ; and again bearing a part in Arbela (Arrian, Anab. iii. 11; Curt. iv. 50. )
the passage of the Hydaspes, and in various other He is certainly distinct from the preceding, and
operations in India (Arrian, Anab. i. 4, 14, 20, 24, is probably the same person whom we afterwards
ii
. 8, iii. 11, 18, v. 12 ; Curt. iii
. 24, v. 14, vii. 27 ; find mentioned among the friends and adherents of
Diod. xvii. 57). But notwithstanding this long Pithon, who participated in his projects of revolt
series of services we do not learn that Alexander against Antigonus, B. C. 316. [Pituon. ) After
promoted him to any higher or more confidential the death of their leader, Melenger and Menoetas
situation, nor do we find him employed in any broke out into open insurrection, but were speedily
separate command of importance. Already, before defeated by Orontobates and Hippostratus, who
the king's death, Meleager had given evidence had been left by Antigonus in the government of
of an insolent and factious disposition, and these Media, and Meleager was slain in the battle.
qualities broke out in their full force during the dis- (Diod. xix. 47. )
cussions which ensued after the death of Alexander. 3. A son of Ptolemy Soter and Eurydice,
His conduct on that occasion is differently related. daughter of Antipater, succeeded his brother Pro-
According to Justin, he was the first to propose in lemy Ceraunus on the throne of Macedonia, after
the council of officers, that either Arrhidaeus or the latter had fallen in battle against the Gauls
Heracles the son of Barsine should at once be (B. C. 280); but was compelled by the Macedonian
chosen king, instead of waiting for the chance of troops to resign the crown, after a reign of only
Roxana bearing a son. Curtius, on the contrary, two months. (Euseb. Arm. pp.
156, 157, Dexippus,
represents him as breaking out into violent in- ap. Syncell. pp. 267, 270. ) His reign is omitted by
vectives against the ambition of Perdiccas, and Justin.
[E. H. B. )
abruptly quitting the assembly, in order to excite MELEA'GER (Menéaypos), son of Eucrates,
the soldiery to a tumult. Diodorus, again, states the celebrated writer and collector of epigrams,
that he was sent by the assembled generals to was a native of Gadara in Palestine, and lived
appease the clamours and discontent of the troops, about B. C. 60. There are 131 of his epigrams in
but instead of doing so he himself joined the the Greek Anthology, written in a good Greek
mutineers. In any case it is certain that Meleager style, though somewhat affected, and distinguished
early assumed the lead of the opposition to Perdic- by sophistic acumen and amatory fancy. (Brunck,
cas and his party ; and placed himself at the head of Anal. vol. i. pp. 1–38 ; Jacobs, Anth. (craec. vol.
the infantry, who had declared themselves (probably i: pp. 1–40, vol. xiii. pp. 639, 698, 915, 916;
at his instigation) in favour of the claims of Arrhi- Fabric
. Bibl. Graec. vol. iv. pp. 416—420. ) Be-
daeus to the vacant throne. Meleager even went 50 sides the various editions of the Greek Anthology,
far as to order the execution of Perdiccas, without there are separate editions of the epigrams of Me
any express authority from his puppet of a king ; leager, for which see Fabricius. An account of his
but this project was disconcerted by the boldness Etépavos, or collection of epigrams, is given under
of the regent: and the greater part of the cavalry, PLANUDES.
[P. S. )
together with almost all the generals, sided with MELES (Méans), an Athenian, who was be-
Perdiccas, and, quitting Babylon, established them- loved by Timagoras, but refused to listen to him,
selves in a separate camp without the walls of the and ordered him to leap from the rock of the acro-
city. Matters thus seemed tending to an open polis. Timagoras, who was only a metoikos at
rupture, but a reconciliation was effected, principally | Athens, did as he was bid; but Meles, repenting
by the intervention of Eumenes, and it was agreed of his cruel command, likewise threw himself from
that the royal authority should be divided between the rock ; and the Athenians from that time are
Arrhidaeus and the expected son of Roxana, and said to have worshipped Anteros, as the avenger
that in the mean time Meleager should be asso- of Timagoras. (Paus. i. 30. $ 1. )
ciated with Perdiccas in the regency.
It was,
Meles is also the god of the river Meles, near
however, evidently impossible that these two should | Smyrna ; and this river-god was believed by some
long continue on really friendly terms, and Me- to have been the father of Homer. (Vit. Script.
leager proved no match for his wily and designing Graec. p. 27, ed. Westermann. )
p.
[L. S. ]
antagonist. Perdiccas contrived by his profound MELES (Méans). 1. Of Colophon, the father
dissimulation, to lull his rival into fancied security, of the poet Polymnestus (Plut. de Mus. p. 1133, a. ).
while he made himself master both of the person 2. Of Athens, the father of the dithyrambic
and the disposition of the imbecile Arrhidaeus, of poet Cinesias, was himself also a dithyrambic poet,
which he immediately took advantage, and hastened and is ranked by Pherecrates as the worst of all
to strike the first blow. The whole army was the citharoedic poets of his day (Schol. ad Aristoph.
assembled under pretence of a general review and Av. 858). Plato also tells us that his performances
lustration, when the king, at the instigation of annoyed the audience (Gorg. p. 502). '. (P. S. ]
Perdiccas, suddenly demanded the surrender and MELESA GORAS. (AMELESAGORAS. )-
punishment of all the leaders in the late disorders. MELESIPPUS (MEAñOITTOS), a Lacedaemo.
The infantry were taken by surprise, and unable to nian, son of Diacritus, was one of the three ambas
offer any resistance ; 300 of the alleged muti- sadors sent to Athens in B. C. 432, just before the
neers were singled out, and instantly executed ; commencement of the Peloponnesian war, with the
and though Meleager himself was not personally final demand of Lacedaemon for the restoration of
attacked, he deemed it necessary to provide for his the independence of all the Greek states. By the
safety by flight, and took refuge in a temple, where advice of Pericles, the Athenians refused compli-
he was quickly pursued and put to death by order ance. In the following year, when Archidamus
of Perdiccas. . (Curt. 1. 21-29; Justin. xii. was on his march to invade Attica, be again sent
>
## p. 1018 (#1034) ##########################################
1018
MELETIUS.
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Melesippus to Athens, in the hope of effecting aſ the church, to his native country, Melitene, while
Degotiation; but the Athenians would not even Euzoius was appointed bishop of Antioch in his
admit him to a hearing. (Thuc. i. 139—145, ii. room (A. D. 361). This step led to an immediate
12. )
(E. E. ) and extensive schism : the orthodox party broke
ME'LETE (Menéan), the name of one of the off from the communion of the Arians, and met in
Muses. (Pausanias, ix. 29. § 2 ; compare Mu- the church of the Apostles, in what was called the
SAE. )
[L. S. ] old town of Antioch. There had been a previous
MELETIUS (MEMÉTLOS), literary and ecclesias- secession of the more zealous part of the orthodox
tical.
on occasion of the deposition of Eustathius (A. D.
1. Of Antioch, an eminent Greek ecclesiastic | 331), but the two seceding bodies remained separate,
of the fourth century. He was born at Melitene, the Eustathians objecting that Meletius had been or-
near the right bank of the Euphrates, in the dis- dained by Arians. On the accession of the emperor
trict of Melitene, in Armenia Minor. His parents Julian Meletius returned to Antioch (A. D. 362),
were persons of rank, at least of respectable condi- I and the most earnest endeavours were made to ns
tion (Gregor. Nyssen. Oratio hubit. in funere concile the two sections of the orthodox party : but
Meletii), and he probably inherited from them an though the death of Eustathius seemed to present
estate which he possessed in Armenia (Basil. a fair opportunity for such reconciliation, all the
Epist. 187, editt. vett. , 99, ed. Benedict. ) His efforts made were frustrated by the intemperate
gentleness of disposition, general excellence of cha- zeal of Lucifer of Cugliari (LUCIFER), who ordained
racter, and persuasive eloquence, acquired for him Paulinus bishop of the Eustathians. Meanwhile,
a high reputation : but his first bishopric, that of the Arians appear to have retained possession of
Sebaste, in Armenia, in which he succeeded Eus- most of the churches, the orthodox having one or
tathius (EustathIUS, No. 7), apparently after two assigned for their use, of which, however, on
the latter had been deposed in the council of Meli- the accession of the emperor Valens, they were de
tene (A. n. 357), proved so troublesome, through prived, and Meletius was again (A. D. 365? ) ba-
the contumacy of his people, that he withdrew nished from the city. According to Tillemont, who
from his charge and retired to Beroes, now Aleppo grounds his assertion on two passages of Gregory
• in Syria, of which city, according to one rendering of Nyssen (ibid. ), Meletius was twice banished under
a doubtful expression in Socrates, he became bishop. Valens, or three times in all, which supposes
The East was at this time torn with the Arian contro- a return from his first banishment under that
versy ; but the character of Meletius won the respect prince. Gregory's assertion, however, is not eor-
of both parties, and each appears to have regarded roborated by any of the ecclesiastical bistorians ;
him as belonging to them, a result promoted by and we have no means of determining the dates of
his dwelling, in his discourses, on practical rather Meletius's return and subsequent exile, if they
than polemical subjects. According to Philostor- really took place. Tillemont thinks he was recalled
gius he feigned himself an Arian, and subscribed in A. D. 367 at latest, and places his last banish-
the Confession of the Western bishops, probably ment in A. D. 371. During his exile his party
that of Ariminum ; and, according to Socrates, he were directed by Flavian and Diodorus. (Fla-
subscribed the creed of the Acacians, at Seleuceia VIANUS, No. 1 ; DIODORUS, No. 3. ) He was
in a. D. 359. These concurrent testimonies fix on recalled on the death of Valens A. D. 378, but the
him the charge either of instability or dissimulation. edict of Gratian, wbich recalled all those who were
Still his real tendency to the Hoinoousian doctrine in exile, allowed the Arians (who had chosen Do-
was known to or suspected by many ; and, there- rotheus their bishop in the room of Euzoius, now
fore, when, by the influence of Acacius and the deceased) to retain the churches which they occu-
Arians, he was appointed to the see of Antioch pied ; however they were after a time delivered
(A. D. 360 or 361), all the bishops, clergy, and up to Meletius, who again manifested his anxiety
people of the city and neighbourhood, Arians and to heal the schism between his own party and the
Orthodox, went out to meet him. Even the Jews Eustathians ; but his equitable offers were rejected
and Heathens flocked to see a person who had al- by his more tenacious rival Paulinus. In A. D.
ready attained so great celebrity. For a time, but 381 Meletius was at Constantinople at the second
apparently a very short time, he confined himself general council, and died in that city during its
to practical subjects, avoiding or speaking ambi- session. His body was conveyed with great honour
guously on the doctrines in dispute between the to Antioch, and deposited close to the tomb of the
contending parties, but presently gave more open martyr Babylas. His funeral oration, pronounced
indications of his adherence to the orthodox party. | by Gregory Nyssen, is extant. There is no reason
It was probably to draw out his sentiments more to doubt the truth of the encomiums bestowed on
distinctly that he was desired by the emperor the gentleness of his temper and general kindness
Constantius to give an exposition of the passage, of his disposition: that these very qualities, com-
Prov. viii. 22. [GEORGIUS, No. 29. ] He was bined perhaps with indifference to the points in
preceded in the pulpit by George of Laodiceia and dispute, rendered him more pliant in the earlier
by Acacius of Caesareia, who gave explanations part of his life than was consistent with strict in-
more or less heterodox; and when Meletius in his tegrity, at least with consistency. But from the
turn came to speak, and avowed his adherence to time of his elevation to the see of Antioch, there is
the orthodox doctrine, a scene of great excitement no need to doubt bis consistent adherence to what
ensued, the people applauding, and the Arians he judged to be the truth. In the Western church,
among the clergy, especially the archdeacon, at- indeed, which fraternized with the ultra party of
tempting to stop his mouth. Determined now to the Eustathians, his reputation was lower : he was
get rid of him, the Arians charged him with Sa- regarded as an Arian, and it was long before the
bellianism, and persuaded the emperor to depose imputation was removed. A short piece, ascribed
him and banish him, apparently on a charge either to Athanasius, and published with his works (vol.
of perjury or of having violated the discipline of | . i. p. 30, ed. Benedict. ), but the genuineness of
Tiller
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## p. 1019 (#1035) ##########################################
MELETIUS.
1019
MELETIUS.
which is very doubtful, charges him with hypocrisy. | (which left him the title of bishop, though it de-
He enjoyed the friendship of Basil and other lead- prived him of the power to ordain) would have
ing men of the orthodox party. Epiphanius bas dealt so leniently with him. The Council allowed
spoken favourably of him, but Jerome is less fa- those whom he had ordained to retain the priestly
vourable, owing, probably, to his connection with office, on condition of re-ordination, and of their
Paulinus. A part of the first sermon preached by 1 yielding precedence to those whose first ordination
Meletius at Antioch has been preserved by Epi- had been regular. The schism begun in prison
phanius, and is given in the Bibliotheca Patrum of was continued in the mines of Phaenon, in Arabia
Galland, vol. v. A synodical epistle to the emperor | Petraea, to which Meletius and others were ba-
Jovian, given by Socrates (H. E. iii. 25), and So- nished, and after their release. Meletius ordained
zomen (H.
