Melampus(Μελάμπους), the author of two
little Greek works still extant.
He lived probably in the third century B. C., as the
Divinatio is addressed
to "king Ptolemy," who is supposed by Fabricius (
Biblioth. Gr. vol. i. p.
99, ed. vet.) to have been Ptolemy Philadelphus.
Works
Περὶ Παλμῶν Μαντική, Divinatio ex Palpitatione,Περὶ Ἐλαιῶν τοῦ Σάματος, De Naevis Oleaceis in Corpore. Both the works (as might be anticipated from the titles) are full of
superstitions and absurdities.
Editions
They were first published in Greek by Camillus Peruscus, in his edition of Aelian's
Varia Historia, &c., Rom. 1545, 4to.
Translations
They were translated into Latin by Nicolaus Petreius, and published together with
Meletius, De Natura Hominis, Venet. 1552, 4to.They have also been translated into French and German.The last and best edition is that by J. G. F. Franz, in his Scriptores Physiognomiae Veteres, Altenburg, 1780, 8vo.
Further Information
Fabric. Bibl. Gr. vol. i. p. 99, ed. vet.; Choulant, Handb. d. Bücherkunde j ür die Aeltere Medicin, p. 415.
[W.A.G](author.W.A.G)]