Περί τῆς τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου Κατασκευῆς

Mele'tius

(Μελέτιος), the author of a short Greek work, entitled Περί τῆς τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου Κατασκευῆς, De Natura (or Fabrica) Hominis.

He appears from the inscription at the beginning of the work to have been a Christian and a monk, and to have belonged to the city of Tiberiopolis in Phrygia Magna. The time at which he lived is unknown, but he probably cannot be placed earlier than the sixth or seventh century after Christ.

Works

Περί τῆς τοῦ Ἀνθρώπου Κατασκευῆς, De Natura (or Fabrica) Hominis.

His work (the subject-matter of which is sufficiently indicated by the title) is interesting, and evidently written by a religious man, but is of no particular value in a physiological point of view.

Editions

Latin Edition

It was first published in a Latin translation by Nicolaus Petreius, Venet. 1552, 4to.

Greek Edition

The Greek text, though existing in MS. in several European libraries, remained unpublished till 1836, when Dr. Cramer inserted in the third volume of his " Anecdota Graeca," 8vo. Oxon. It is badly edited, and the text contains numerous errors, some arising from the editor's evident ignorance of the subject-matter of the treatise, and others apparently from haste and carelessness. The beginning of the work was published by Fred. Ritschel, Vratislav. 4to. 1837.

Further Information

There is an essay by L. E. Bachmann, entitled "Quaestio de Meletio Graece inedito, ejusque Latino Interprete Nic. Petreio," Rostoch. 4to. 1833.

Commentary on the Aphorisms of Hippocrates

It is uncertain whether this is the same person who wrote a commentary on the Aphorisms of Hippocrates, some extracts from which are inserted by Dietz in the second volume of his " Scholia in Hippocratem et Galenum," Regim. Pruss. 8vo. 1834. It is indeed doubtful whether the commentary is the work of Meletius or Stephanus Atheniensis.

Letter of St. Basil addressed to a physician named Meletius

One of the letters of St. Basil, dated A. D. 375 (Epist. 193, vol. iii. p. 285, ed. Bened.) is addressed to a physician named Meletius, who is called by the title Archiater, but of whom no particulars are known.

[W.A.G]