The Life of Melissus

I. Melissus was a Samian, and the son of Ithagenes. He was a pupil of Parmenides; but he also had conversed with Heraclitus, when he recommended him to the Ephesians, who were unacquainted with him, as Hippocrates recommended Democritus to the people of Abdera.

I. Melissus was from Samos and was the son of Ithagenes. He was a pupil of Parmenides, but he had also spoken with Heraclitus. He recommended Heraclitus to the Ephesians, who did not know him, just as Hippocrates recommended Democritus to the people of Abdera.

II. He was a man greatly occupied in political affairs, and held in great esteem among his fellow citizens; on which account he was elected admiral. And he was admired still more on account of his private virtues.

II. He was deeply involved in politics and highly respected by his fellow citizens. For this reason, they elected him admiral. He was admired even more for his personal virtues.

III. His doctrine was, that the Universe was infinite, unsusceptible of change, immoveable, and one, being always like to itself, and complete; and that there was no such thing as real motion, but that there only appeared to be such. As respecting the Gods, too, he denied that there was any occasion to give a definition of them, for that there was no certain knowledge of them.

III. He taught that the Universe was infinite, unchanging, immovable, and one. It was always the same and complete. He also taught that motion was not real, but only appeared to exist. As for the Gods, he said there was no need to define them, because nothing certain was known about them.

IV. Apollodorus states that he flourished about the eighty-fourth olympiad.

IV. Apollodorus says that he was active around the eighty-fourth Olympiad.