The northern
PINUS] of participation in Piso's plot.
PINUS] of participation in Piso's plot.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - b
IL
3 T
## p. 1010 (#1026) ##########################################
1010
MEIDIAS.
MELA.
Ce
PIN
boo
не
cite
AL:
207
But
9.
a)
opei
MEGISTO (Meylotá), is in some writers giving freedom and independence to the citizens. "
another form for Callisto, the mother of Arcas, who He then entered Scepsis and proclaimed liberty
is also called Themisto. (Steph. Byz. 8. v. 'Apres ; amidst the joy of the inhabitants. Meidias, ac
Eustath. ad Hom. p. 300 ; Hygin. Poet. A str. companying him thence on his march to Gergis,
ii. 1. )
[L. S. ) begged leave to retain the town, and received for
MEGI'STONUS or MEGISTONOUS (Me- answer, that he should have his due. Having taken
giotóvous), a Spartan of rank and influence, whom possession of the place, Dercyllidas deprived Mei-
Cratesicleia, the mother of Cleomenes III. , took dias of his guards, and seized the treasures of
for her second husband, with the view, as it would Mania as his by right of conquest over Pharna-
seem, of securing him to her son's party; and we bazus, leaving to Meidias nothing beyond his pri-
find him accordingly entering readily into the plans vate property. The murderer, alarmed with good
of Cleomenes for the reformation of the state. In reason for his safety, asked where he was to live ?
B. C. 226 he was taken prisoner by Aratus in a “ Even where it is most just you should," — was
battle near Orchomenus in Arcadia ; but he must the answer, — "in Scepsis, your native city, and
have been soon released, for he appears again not in your father's house," words which could have
long after at Sparta, co-operating with Cleomenes conveyed to him no other meaning than, “ Even
in the measures which he proposed after the where you will be exposed unprotected to the
murder of the Ephori, and setting an example to indignation and vengeance of your country-
his countrymen by the voluntary surrender of his men. " (Xen. llell. iii. 1. SS 14-28 ; Polyaen. ij.
property. In B. C. 223, when Cleomenes took 6. ) [Midias. ]
(E. E. )
Argos, Megistonous induced him to adopt no steps MEILA'NION (Melnavlar), a son of Amphida-
against those citizens who were suspected of an mas, and husband of Atalante, by whom he became
attachment to the Achaean party, beyond the re- the father of Parthenopaeus. (Apollod. iii. 9. & 2;
quisition of twenty hostages. In the same year comp. ATALANTE. )
[L S. )
Cleomenes, having taken possession of Corinth, and MEILI'CHIUS (Medixios), i. e. the god that
besieged the citadel, sent Megistonous and Tripy- can be propitiated, or the gracious, is used as a
lus, or Tritymallus, to Aratus, then at Sicyon, with sumame of several divinities. 1. Of Zeus, as the
an offer of terms, which, however, were rejected. protector of those who honoured him with propi-
Not long after this, the Achaean party in Argosciatory sacrifices. At Athens cakes were offered
excited an insurrection against the Spartan gar- to him every year at the festival of the Diasia.
rison ; and Megistonous, being sent by Cleomeues (Thucyd. i. 1 26 ; Xenoph. Anab, vii. 7. $ 4. ) Altars
with 2000 men to quell the revolt, was slain in were erected to Zeus Meilichius on the Cephissus
battle soon after he had thrown himself into the (Paus. i. 37. § 3), at Sicyon (ii. 9. 86), and at Argos
city. (Plut. Cleom. 6, 7, 11, 19, 21, Arat. 38, 41, (ii. 20. $ 1 ; Plut. De cohib. Ir. 9). 2. Of Dionysus
44; comp. Polyb. ii. 47, 52, 53; Droysen, Hellen- in the island of Naxos. (Athen. iii. p. 78. ) 3. Of
ismus, vol. ii. b. ii. ch. 4. )
(E. E. ] Tyche or Fortune. (Orph. Hymn. 71. 2. ) The plu-
MEHERDATES, the grandson of Phraates IV. , ral Jeol perrexion is also applied to certain divinities
king of Parthia, lived at Rome as a hostage, but whom mortals used to propitiate with sacrifices at
was sent by the emperor Claudius, about A. D. 50, night, that they might avert all evil, as e. g. at
into Parthia at the request of the inhabitants, who Myonia in the country of the Ozolian Locrians.
were disgusted at the cruelty of their reigning (Paus. 2. 38. § 4; comp. Orpb. E. 30. ) [L. S. ]
sovereign Gotarzes. Cassius Longinus, the governor
MELA, or MELLA, M. ANNAEUS, was the
of Syria, received orders to support Meherdates in youngest son of M. Annaeus Seneca, the rhetorician,
his attempt to gain the crown ; but Meherdates and Helvia (Helvia), and brother of L. Seneca
was defeated in battle, and taken prisoner by Go and Gallio (Gallio] (et docti Senecae ler nume-
tarzes, who spared his life but cut off his ears. randa domus. Mart. Ep. iv. 40). He was born
(Tac. Ann. xi. 10, xii. 10–14. ) The name Meat Corduba, and, although raised to senatorian
herdates is merely another form of Mithridates. rank, he always preferred the name and station
MEIDIAS (Medias), a native of Scepsis, and of an eques. (Sen. Consol. ad Helv. xvi. , Cor-
son-in-law of Mania, satrapess of the Midland trov. ii. Prooem. ; comp. Tac. Ann. xvi. 17. ) Mela
Aeolis, whom he strangled, and added to the crime studied rhetoric with success ; but, leaving to his
the murder of her son, a boy about sixteen years brothers the dangerous honours in Nero's reign of
old. He then seized the towns of Scepsis and the state and the forum, he adhered to a life of
Gergis, where the greater part of Mania's treasures privacy. His first occupation was that of steward
was deposited. The other cities, however, of the to his father's estates in Spain; and through his
satrapy refused to acknowledge him as their ruler, brother L. Seneca's influence with Nero, he after-
and, when he sent presents to Pharnabazus with a wards held the office of procurator or agent to the
request to be invested with the government which imperial demesnes. Mela married Acilia, daughter
his mother-in-law had held, he received a threat of Acilius Lucanus of Corduba, a provincial lawyer
ening answer and an assurance that the satrap of some note. By Acilia he had at least one son,
would rather die than leave Mania unrevenged. the celebrated Lucan, A. D. 40. (Lucanus. ] After
At this crisis Dercyllidas, the Spartan general, ar- Lucan's death, a. D. 65, Mela laid claim to his
rived in Asia (B. C. 399), and, having proclaimed property; and the suit arising from this claim
freedom to all the Aeolian towns and received proved ultimately his own destruction. Fabius
several of them into alliance, advanced against Romanus, who opposed him, had been his son's
Scepsis, where Meidias was. The latter, equally intimate friend, and was thought to have inserted
afraid of Pharnabazus and of the Scepsians, sent to among the papers of the deceased forged letters
Dercyllidas to propose a conference on receiving involving Mela in at least a knowledge of Piso's
hostages for his safety. These he obtained ; but, conspiracy, A. D. 65. (Tac. Ann. xv. 48, &c. ) Mela
when he asked on what terms he might hope for was rich, Nero was needy and rapacious, and the
alliance, the Spartan answered, “ on condition of foriner anticipated a certain sentence by suicide,
othy
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## p. 1011 (#1027) ##########################################
MELA.
1011
MELA. "
ne tirar
Larisa ato
enred lo
treases
over Prant
Toad bp
ced was pasi
we a28 n.
300,-
suive est, and
zich could on
srotected to the
Four OTT
20; Poirare i
son of Aopus
wkon be baan
pojad. I 202,
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ie the ad
cioos, is ex11
1. Of Zees, a
ed him with
3 cakes per
stival of the Drug
ab, vii. 7. 51) 12
hius on the Leptos
7. 9. $ 6,21
7. 9)
. 2. Of Drotto
ben. iii p 78. ) i
Hyms. i1. 2. ) The air
pued to certain dries
pitiate with
rert all evil as £5. 5
of the Ozolian Lichts
/rph. E. ) [LS]
1. ANXIETS
us Senea, the reinca.
and brother of L. 90
docti Senecae et met
A. D. 66. To save a part for his family, Mela be- a short prooemium, in which he dwells upon the
queathed to Tigellinus and his son-in-law, Cossu-importance and the difficulties of the undertaking,
tianus Capito (Capito), a large portion of his and states the manner in which he proposes to
wealth. Codicils, believed however to be spurious, execute his task, he proceeds to define the cardinal
were annexed to Mela's will, accusing Anicius points, and to explain the division of the world
Cerialis (CERIALIS) and Rufius Crispinus (CRIS into two hemispheres and five zoncs.
The northern
PINUS] of participation in Piso's plot. The char- hemisphere is that portion of the earth which is
acter and studies of Mela are agreeably sketched known, and is separated by the impassable torrid
by the elder Seneca in the prooemium to his 2d zone from the southern hemisphere, which is
book of Controversiae, which book is also especially altogether unknown, and is the abode of the
addressed to Mela. (Tac. Ann. xvi. 17; Dion Cass. Anticthones. The northem or known hemisphere
Ixii. 25; Sen. Controv. ii. v. prooem. , Cons. ad is completely surrounded by the ocean, which com-
Helv. xvi. )
(W. B. D. ] municates with the four great seas: one on the
MELA, FA'BIUS, a Roman jurist, who is often north, the Caspian ; two on the south, the Persian
cited in the Digest ; but there is no excerpt from and the Arabian ; one on the west, the Mediter-
his writings there. The fact that he is cited by ranean, with its subdivisions of the Hellespont,
Africanus (Dig. 46. tit. 3. s. 39, and 50. tit. 16. & the Propontis, the Thracian Bosporus, the Euxine,
207) shows that he was at least his contemporary. the Cimmerian Bosporus, and the Palus Maeotis.
But it may be collected from another passage (Dig. By this sea and the two great rivers, the Tanais
9. tit. 2. &. 11) that he was prior to Proculus, or and Nile, the whole of the northern hemisphere is
at least his contemporary ; for in that passage Ul- portioned out into three great divisions. All to
pian cites Mela before Proculus. In another pas- the north of the Mediterranean and the west of
sage Ulpian (Dig. 19. tit. 1. s. 17) cites Mela as the Tanais constitute Europe ; all to the south of
the authority for an opinion of Gallus Aquilius the Mediterranean and the west of the Nile con-
who was a friend of Cicero, and praetor B. C. 66 ; stitute Africa ; what remains is Asia. Next
and again (Dig. 19. tit. 9. s. 3) as authority for an follows a brief general description of the three con-
opinion of Servius Sulpicius. He is often cited in tinents, and an enumeration of the chief tribes by
connection with Labeo and Trebatius. As Afri- which they are inhabited. These preliminaries
canus wrote under Hadrian, who died A. D. 138, being discussed, the author enters upon more mi-
and in the reign of Pius, the successor of Hadrian, nute details, and makes a complete circuit of the
we cannot with certainty fix the period of Mela as known world, tracing first the coast of the Medi-
earlier than that of Antoninus Pius ; but from the terranean and the shores of the ocean.
Thus com-
other citations here mentioned it has been inferred mencing at the straits of Hercules with Mauritania,
that he was a contemporary of Labeo and Treba- he passes on in regular order to Numidia, Africa
tius. We are not acquainted with the title of Proper, the Cyrenaica, Egypt, Arabia, Syria
any of Mela's writings, though he wrote at least Phoenicia, Cilicia, Pamphylia, Lycia, Caria, Ionia,
ten books about something. (Dig. 46. tit. 3. 8. Aeolis, Bithynia, Paphlagonia, the Asiatic nations
39. )
[G. L. ] on the Euxine and the Palus Maeotis, European
MELA, POMPO'NIUS, the first Roman au- Scythia, Thrace, Macedonia, Greece, the Pelopon-
thor who composed a formal treatise upon Geo- nesus, Epirus, Illyricum, Italy from the head of
graphy. From one passage in his work (ii
. 6. $74) the Adriatic round by Magna Graecia to the Ligu-
we learn that he was born at a town situated on rian Gulf, Gallia Narbonnensis, and the eastern
the bay of Algesiras, and the name of the place coast of Spain. (Hispaniae ora citerior. ) The
seems to have been Tingentera or Cingentera ; but tour of the Mediterranean being now completed, a
the text is here so corrupt, that it is impossible to chapter is devoted to its islands. Passing beyond
speak with certainty. From a second passage (iü. the Straits, we stretch along the western coast of
6. § 25, comp. Sueton. Claud. 17) it is highly pro- Spain (Hispaniae ora exterior), the western coast
bable that he flourished under the emperor Clau- of Gaul (Galliae ora exterior), the islands of the
dius ; but at all events it is certain that he must Northern Ocean, Germany, Sarmatia, the shores
have written after the campaigns of Augustus in of the Caspian, the Eastern Ocean and India, the
Spain, for he speaks of the ancient Jol as having Mare Rubrum and its two gulfs, the Persian and
been ennobled by the appellation of Caesareia (i. 6. Arabian, Aethiopia, and those portions of Aethiopia
$5), and mentions two towns in the country of and Mauritania bordering upon the Atlantic, which
the Cantabri which had been named after their con brings him round to the point from which he
queror. Beyond these particulars our knowledge started. It will be seen from the above sketch
does not extend. Funccius indeed conjectures that the existence of the northern countries of Eu-
that the designation Pomponius was acquired by rope and of the northern and eastern countries of
adoption, and that he is in reality the L. Annaeus Asia were unknown, it being supposed that these
Mela of Corduba, who was the son of Seneca the regions formed part of the ocean, which, in like
rhetorician-the brother of Seneca the philosopher, manner, was supposed to occupy the whole of
and of Junius Gallio — and the father of the poet Central and Southern Africa.
Lucan; but there appears to be no evidence in As might be expected in a tract which consists
favour of this hypothesis beyond the bare facts chiefly of proper names, the text is often exces-
that both of these personages were Spaniards, and sively and hopelessly currupt, but the style is
that both bore the surname of Mela. (Senec. simple, unaffected, and perspicuous; the Latinity
Controv. lib. ii. praef. ; Tac. Ann. xvi. 17 ; Hieron. is pure; all the best authorities accessible at that
in Chron. Euseb. Olymp. ccxi. ; comp. Plin. H. N. period, especially Eratosthenes, appear to have
xix. 33, who, probably by mistake, wrote Tiberio been carefully consulted ; and although everything
for Nerone. )
is compressed within the narrowest limits, we find
The title prefixed to the Compendium of Mela the monotony of the catalogue occasionally diversi-
in the best ÀSS. is De Situ Orbis Libri III. After fied by animated and pleasing pictures.
3 1 2
p. ir. 40)
. He was that
ugh raised to create
red the name and
Conseil, a Het item
Tac. AEL IT, in one
success ; but, leaning to its
honours in Veri:27
dim, he adhered to set
cupation was that of course
in Spain; and the
aduence with Nena bez
of procurator or ax: **
Mela married Accion*
i Corduba a prurinci ari
Acilia he had at least
1, 4. D. 40. [Lecasts 4
65, Vela laid dus o be
suit arising from tisch
his own destructia fub
osed bim, had been bal
thought to hare inverter
of the decased lapsed lazy
1 at least a kreslite o
5. (Tac. J. LIT. 48
as needs and many ad*
a certain sentent
4
i was
d
## p. 1012 (#1028) ##########################################
1012
MELAMPUS.
MELAMPUS.
name.
9.
hor
12
1
07
be
2
&
8
The Editio Princeps of Pomponius Mela ap- | ri. 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-
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
begin 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 wor-
standard 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 Hom. p. 1816).
into English: “The rare and singular Work of Diodorus (i97) 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 fol-
Kingdome, 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
Polyhistor, 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 Golding, Gent. " 4to. by Melampus himself, who reared the young ones.
Lond. The Mela was first published in 1585, One day, when they had grown up, and Melampus
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, started up, and to his
by C. P. Fradin, 3 vols. 8vo. Paris, 1804, and surprise perceived that he now understood the lan-
with a new title-page 1827 ; into Italian by Por- guage of birds, and that with their assistance he
cảcchi, 8vo. Venet. 1547; and into German by could foretell the future. In addition to this he
J. C. Dietz, 8vo.
3 T
## p. 1010 (#1026) ##########################################
1010
MEIDIAS.
MELA.
Ce
PIN
boo
не
cite
AL:
207
But
9.
a)
opei
MEGISTO (Meylotá), is in some writers giving freedom and independence to the citizens. "
another form for Callisto, the mother of Arcas, who He then entered Scepsis and proclaimed liberty
is also called Themisto. (Steph. Byz. 8. v. 'Apres ; amidst the joy of the inhabitants. Meidias, ac
Eustath. ad Hom. p. 300 ; Hygin. Poet. A str. companying him thence on his march to Gergis,
ii. 1. )
[L. S. ) begged leave to retain the town, and received for
MEGI'STONUS or MEGISTONOUS (Me- answer, that he should have his due. Having taken
giotóvous), a Spartan of rank and influence, whom possession of the place, Dercyllidas deprived Mei-
Cratesicleia, the mother of Cleomenes III. , took dias of his guards, and seized the treasures of
for her second husband, with the view, as it would Mania as his by right of conquest over Pharna-
seem, of securing him to her son's party; and we bazus, leaving to Meidias nothing beyond his pri-
find him accordingly entering readily into the plans vate property. The murderer, alarmed with good
of Cleomenes for the reformation of the state. In reason for his safety, asked where he was to live ?
B. C. 226 he was taken prisoner by Aratus in a “ Even where it is most just you should," — was
battle near Orchomenus in Arcadia ; but he must the answer, — "in Scepsis, your native city, and
have been soon released, for he appears again not in your father's house," words which could have
long after at Sparta, co-operating with Cleomenes conveyed to him no other meaning than, “ Even
in the measures which he proposed after the where you will be exposed unprotected to the
murder of the Ephori, and setting an example to indignation and vengeance of your country-
his countrymen by the voluntary surrender of his men. " (Xen. llell. iii. 1. SS 14-28 ; Polyaen. ij.
property. In B. C. 223, when Cleomenes took 6. ) [Midias. ]
(E. E. )
Argos, Megistonous induced him to adopt no steps MEILA'NION (Melnavlar), a son of Amphida-
against those citizens who were suspected of an mas, and husband of Atalante, by whom he became
attachment to the Achaean party, beyond the re- the father of Parthenopaeus. (Apollod. iii. 9. & 2;
quisition of twenty hostages. In the same year comp. ATALANTE. )
[L S. )
Cleomenes, having taken possession of Corinth, and MEILI'CHIUS (Medixios), i. e. the god that
besieged the citadel, sent Megistonous and Tripy- can be propitiated, or the gracious, is used as a
lus, or Tritymallus, to Aratus, then at Sicyon, with sumame of several divinities. 1. Of Zeus, as the
an offer of terms, which, however, were rejected. protector of those who honoured him with propi-
Not long after this, the Achaean party in Argosciatory sacrifices. At Athens cakes were offered
excited an insurrection against the Spartan gar- to him every year at the festival of the Diasia.
rison ; and Megistonous, being sent by Cleomeues (Thucyd. i. 1 26 ; Xenoph. Anab, vii. 7. $ 4. ) Altars
with 2000 men to quell the revolt, was slain in were erected to Zeus Meilichius on the Cephissus
battle soon after he had thrown himself into the (Paus. i. 37. § 3), at Sicyon (ii. 9. 86), and at Argos
city. (Plut. Cleom. 6, 7, 11, 19, 21, Arat. 38, 41, (ii. 20. $ 1 ; Plut. De cohib. Ir. 9). 2. Of Dionysus
44; comp. Polyb. ii. 47, 52, 53; Droysen, Hellen- in the island of Naxos. (Athen. iii. p. 78. ) 3. Of
ismus, vol. ii. b. ii. ch. 4. )
(E. E. ] Tyche or Fortune. (Orph. Hymn. 71. 2. ) The plu-
MEHERDATES, the grandson of Phraates IV. , ral Jeol perrexion is also applied to certain divinities
king of Parthia, lived at Rome as a hostage, but whom mortals used to propitiate with sacrifices at
was sent by the emperor Claudius, about A. D. 50, night, that they might avert all evil, as e. g. at
into Parthia at the request of the inhabitants, who Myonia in the country of the Ozolian Locrians.
were disgusted at the cruelty of their reigning (Paus. 2. 38. § 4; comp. Orpb. E. 30. ) [L. S. ]
sovereign Gotarzes. Cassius Longinus, the governor
MELA, or MELLA, M. ANNAEUS, was the
of Syria, received orders to support Meherdates in youngest son of M. Annaeus Seneca, the rhetorician,
his attempt to gain the crown ; but Meherdates and Helvia (Helvia), and brother of L. Seneca
was defeated in battle, and taken prisoner by Go and Gallio (Gallio] (et docti Senecae ler nume-
tarzes, who spared his life but cut off his ears. randa domus. Mart. Ep. iv. 40). He was born
(Tac. Ann. xi. 10, xii. 10–14. ) The name Meat Corduba, and, although raised to senatorian
herdates is merely another form of Mithridates. rank, he always preferred the name and station
MEIDIAS (Medias), a native of Scepsis, and of an eques. (Sen. Consol. ad Helv. xvi. , Cor-
son-in-law of Mania, satrapess of the Midland trov. ii. Prooem. ; comp. Tac. Ann. xvi. 17. ) Mela
Aeolis, whom he strangled, and added to the crime studied rhetoric with success ; but, leaving to his
the murder of her son, a boy about sixteen years brothers the dangerous honours in Nero's reign of
old. He then seized the towns of Scepsis and the state and the forum, he adhered to a life of
Gergis, where the greater part of Mania's treasures privacy. His first occupation was that of steward
was deposited. The other cities, however, of the to his father's estates in Spain; and through his
satrapy refused to acknowledge him as their ruler, brother L. Seneca's influence with Nero, he after-
and, when he sent presents to Pharnabazus with a wards held the office of procurator or agent to the
request to be invested with the government which imperial demesnes. Mela married Acilia, daughter
his mother-in-law had held, he received a threat of Acilius Lucanus of Corduba, a provincial lawyer
ening answer and an assurance that the satrap of some note. By Acilia he had at least one son,
would rather die than leave Mania unrevenged. the celebrated Lucan, A. D. 40. (Lucanus. ] After
At this crisis Dercyllidas, the Spartan general, ar- Lucan's death, a. D. 65, Mela laid claim to his
rived in Asia (B. C. 399), and, having proclaimed property; and the suit arising from this claim
freedom to all the Aeolian towns and received proved ultimately his own destruction. Fabius
several of them into alliance, advanced against Romanus, who opposed him, had been his son's
Scepsis, where Meidias was. The latter, equally intimate friend, and was thought to have inserted
afraid of Pharnabazus and of the Scepsians, sent to among the papers of the deceased forged letters
Dercyllidas to propose a conference on receiving involving Mela in at least a knowledge of Piso's
hostages for his safety. These he obtained ; but, conspiracy, A. D. 65. (Tac. Ann. xv. 48, &c. ) Mela
when he asked on what terms he might hope for was rich, Nero was needy and rapacious, and the
alliance, the Spartan answered, “ on condition of foriner anticipated a certain sentence by suicide,
othy
tha:
tius
any
стар
the
the
6.
dias
bave
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$5)
the
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does
that
ador
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and
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that
Cont
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ΤΗ
in the
## p. 1011 (#1027) ##########################################
MELA.
1011
MELA. "
ne tirar
Larisa ato
enred lo
treases
over Prant
Toad bp
ced was pasi
we a28 n.
300,-
suive est, and
zich could on
srotected to the
Four OTT
20; Poirare i
son of Aopus
wkon be baan
pojad. I 202,
[: ܚܐ]
ie the ad
cioos, is ex11
1. Of Zees, a
ed him with
3 cakes per
stival of the Drug
ab, vii. 7. 51) 12
hius on the Leptos
7. 9. $ 6,21
7. 9)
. 2. Of Drotto
ben. iii p 78. ) i
Hyms. i1. 2. ) The air
pued to certain dries
pitiate with
rert all evil as £5. 5
of the Ozolian Lichts
/rph. E. ) [LS]
1. ANXIETS
us Senea, the reinca.
and brother of L. 90
docti Senecae et met
A. D. 66. To save a part for his family, Mela be- a short prooemium, in which he dwells upon the
queathed to Tigellinus and his son-in-law, Cossu-importance and the difficulties of the undertaking,
tianus Capito (Capito), a large portion of his and states the manner in which he proposes to
wealth. Codicils, believed however to be spurious, execute his task, he proceeds to define the cardinal
were annexed to Mela's will, accusing Anicius points, and to explain the division of the world
Cerialis (CERIALIS) and Rufius Crispinus (CRIS into two hemispheres and five zoncs.
The northern
PINUS] of participation in Piso's plot. The char- hemisphere is that portion of the earth which is
acter and studies of Mela are agreeably sketched known, and is separated by the impassable torrid
by the elder Seneca in the prooemium to his 2d zone from the southern hemisphere, which is
book of Controversiae, which book is also especially altogether unknown, and is the abode of the
addressed to Mela. (Tac. Ann. xvi. 17; Dion Cass. Anticthones. The northem or known hemisphere
Ixii. 25; Sen. Controv. ii. v. prooem. , Cons. ad is completely surrounded by the ocean, which com-
Helv. xvi. )
(W. B. D. ] municates with the four great seas: one on the
MELA, FA'BIUS, a Roman jurist, who is often north, the Caspian ; two on the south, the Persian
cited in the Digest ; but there is no excerpt from and the Arabian ; one on the west, the Mediter-
his writings there. The fact that he is cited by ranean, with its subdivisions of the Hellespont,
Africanus (Dig. 46. tit. 3. s. 39, and 50. tit. 16. & the Propontis, the Thracian Bosporus, the Euxine,
207) shows that he was at least his contemporary. the Cimmerian Bosporus, and the Palus Maeotis.
But it may be collected from another passage (Dig. By this sea and the two great rivers, the Tanais
9. tit. 2. &. 11) that he was prior to Proculus, or and Nile, the whole of the northern hemisphere is
at least his contemporary ; for in that passage Ul- portioned out into three great divisions. All to
pian cites Mela before Proculus. In another pas- the north of the Mediterranean and the west of
sage Ulpian (Dig. 19. tit. 1. s. 17) cites Mela as the Tanais constitute Europe ; all to the south of
the authority for an opinion of Gallus Aquilius the Mediterranean and the west of the Nile con-
who was a friend of Cicero, and praetor B. C. 66 ; stitute Africa ; what remains is Asia. Next
and again (Dig. 19. tit. 9. s. 3) as authority for an follows a brief general description of the three con-
opinion of Servius Sulpicius. He is often cited in tinents, and an enumeration of the chief tribes by
connection with Labeo and Trebatius. As Afri- which they are inhabited. These preliminaries
canus wrote under Hadrian, who died A. D. 138, being discussed, the author enters upon more mi-
and in the reign of Pius, the successor of Hadrian, nute details, and makes a complete circuit of the
we cannot with certainty fix the period of Mela as known world, tracing first the coast of the Medi-
earlier than that of Antoninus Pius ; but from the terranean and the shores of the ocean.
Thus com-
other citations here mentioned it has been inferred mencing at the straits of Hercules with Mauritania,
that he was a contemporary of Labeo and Treba- he passes on in regular order to Numidia, Africa
tius. We are not acquainted with the title of Proper, the Cyrenaica, Egypt, Arabia, Syria
any of Mela's writings, though he wrote at least Phoenicia, Cilicia, Pamphylia, Lycia, Caria, Ionia,
ten books about something. (Dig. 46. tit. 3. 8. Aeolis, Bithynia, Paphlagonia, the Asiatic nations
39. )
[G. L. ] on the Euxine and the Palus Maeotis, European
MELA, POMPO'NIUS, the first Roman au- Scythia, Thrace, Macedonia, Greece, the Pelopon-
thor who composed a formal treatise upon Geo- nesus, Epirus, Illyricum, Italy from the head of
graphy. From one passage in his work (ii
. 6. $74) the Adriatic round by Magna Graecia to the Ligu-
we learn that he was born at a town situated on rian Gulf, Gallia Narbonnensis, and the eastern
the bay of Algesiras, and the name of the place coast of Spain. (Hispaniae ora citerior. ) The
seems to have been Tingentera or Cingentera ; but tour of the Mediterranean being now completed, a
the text is here so corrupt, that it is impossible to chapter is devoted to its islands. Passing beyond
speak with certainty. From a second passage (iü. the Straits, we stretch along the western coast of
6. § 25, comp. Sueton. Claud. 17) it is highly pro- Spain (Hispaniae ora exterior), the western coast
bable that he flourished under the emperor Clau- of Gaul (Galliae ora exterior), the islands of the
dius ; but at all events it is certain that he must Northern Ocean, Germany, Sarmatia, the shores
have written after the campaigns of Augustus in of the Caspian, the Eastern Ocean and India, the
Spain, for he speaks of the ancient Jol as having Mare Rubrum and its two gulfs, the Persian and
been ennobled by the appellation of Caesareia (i. 6. Arabian, Aethiopia, and those portions of Aethiopia
$5), and mentions two towns in the country of and Mauritania bordering upon the Atlantic, which
the Cantabri which had been named after their con brings him round to the point from which he
queror. Beyond these particulars our knowledge started. It will be seen from the above sketch
does not extend. Funccius indeed conjectures that the existence of the northern countries of Eu-
that the designation Pomponius was acquired by rope and of the northern and eastern countries of
adoption, and that he is in reality the L. Annaeus Asia were unknown, it being supposed that these
Mela of Corduba, who was the son of Seneca the regions formed part of the ocean, which, in like
rhetorician-the brother of Seneca the philosopher, manner, was supposed to occupy the whole of
and of Junius Gallio — and the father of the poet Central and Southern Africa.
Lucan; but there appears to be no evidence in As might be expected in a tract which consists
favour of this hypothesis beyond the bare facts chiefly of proper names, the text is often exces-
that both of these personages were Spaniards, and sively and hopelessly currupt, but the style is
that both bore the surname of Mela. (Senec. simple, unaffected, and perspicuous; the Latinity
Controv. lib. ii. praef. ; Tac. Ann. xvi. 17 ; Hieron. is pure; all the best authorities accessible at that
in Chron. Euseb. Olymp. ccxi. ; comp. Plin. H. N. period, especially Eratosthenes, appear to have
xix. 33, who, probably by mistake, wrote Tiberio been carefully consulted ; and although everything
for Nerone. )
is compressed within the narrowest limits, we find
The title prefixed to the Compendium of Mela the monotony of the catalogue occasionally diversi-
in the best ÀSS. is De Situ Orbis Libri III. After fied by animated and pleasing pictures.
3 1 2
p. ir. 40)
. He was that
ugh raised to create
red the name and
Conseil, a Het item
Tac. AEL IT, in one
success ; but, leaning to its
honours in Veri:27
dim, he adhered to set
cupation was that of course
in Spain; and the
aduence with Nena bez
of procurator or ax: **
Mela married Accion*
i Corduba a prurinci ari
Acilia he had at least
1, 4. D. 40. [Lecasts 4
65, Vela laid dus o be
suit arising from tisch
his own destructia fub
osed bim, had been bal
thought to hare inverter
of the decased lapsed lazy
1 at least a kreslite o
5. (Tac. J. LIT. 48
as needs and many ad*
a certain sentent
4
i was
d
## p. 1012 (#1028) ##########################################
1012
MELAMPUS.
MELAMPUS.
name.
9.
hor
12
1
07
be
2
&
8
The Editio Princeps of Pomponius Mela ap- | ri. 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-
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
begin 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 wor-
standard 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 Hom. p. 1816).
into English: “The rare and singular Work of Diodorus (i97) 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 fol-
Kingdome, 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
Polyhistor, 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 Golding, Gent. " 4to. by Melampus himself, who reared the young ones.
Lond. The Mela was first published in 1585, One day, when they had grown up, and Melampus
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, started up, and to his
by C. P. Fradin, 3 vols. 8vo. Paris, 1804, and surprise perceived that he now understood the lan-
with a new title-page 1827 ; into Italian by Por- guage of birds, and that with their assistance he
cảcchi, 8vo. Venet. 1547; and into German by could foretell the future. In addition to this he
J. C. Dietz, 8vo.
