A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

(Μελίτων), a Christian writer of (considerable eminence, who lived in the second century. He was contemporary with Hegesippus, Dionysius of Corinth, Apollinaris of Hierapolis, and others (Euseb. Hist. Eccl. 4.21). Of his personal history very little is known. The epithets Asianus and Sardensis, given to him by Jerome (De Vir. Illustr. c. 24), indicate the place of his episcopal charge, not, so far as appears, of his birth. Polycrates of Ephesus, a writer of somewhat later date, in his letter to Victor. bishop of Rome (apud Euseb. Hist. Eccl. 5.24), calls him "Eunuchus," but it is not clear whether this term is to be understood literally, or is simply expressive of his inviolate chastity. At what time he became bishop of Sardes is not known: he probably was bishop when the controversy arose at Laodiceia respecting the observance of Easter, which occasioned him to write his book on the subject (Clem. Alexandr. apud Euseb. Hist. Eccl. 4.26). This controversy arose when Servilius Paulus was proconsul of Asia, and at the time of the martyrdom of Sagaris, who is thought to have suffered in the persecution under M. Aurelius. During the same persecution, Melito composed his Apologia,which, as it was addressed to Aurelius alone, appears to have been written after the death of Lucius Verus, in A. D. 169. The Chronicon of Eusebius places its presentation in A. D. 169-170 : it must have been written then or between those years and A. D. 180, in which Aurelius himself died [AURELIUS MARCUS]. The Chronicon Paschale seems to ascribe to Melito two apologies, one presented to Aurelius and Verus, A. D. 165, the other to Aurelius alone, A. D. 169. Tillemont is disposed to place the Apology as late as the year 175; Pearson and Dodwell between 170 and 175; and Basnage (Annales Politic. Eccles.) and Lardner as late as A. D. 177. The time, place, and manner of Melito's death are not accurately and certainly known: from the silence of Polycrates (apud Euseb. l.c.) it may be inferred that he was not a Martyr; the place of his death may be conjectured from that of his interment, which Polycrates states to have been Sardes; and as for the date of it, Polycrates, whose letter to Victor was apparently written about 196, speaks of it in a way which indicates that it was not then recent.

[J.C.M]