Melampus, On Moles

This translation was put up as a supplement to my web page Ancient Astrology and Divination on the Web. To my knowledge it is the first translation in English, and the first into a modern language since that remarkable polymath Girolamo Cardano produced a French version. Quite frankly, I haven't looked closely at this text since 1999, when I wrote this preliminary translation while working on a translation and commentary to Melampus' much longer work on divination by ticks and twitches. I am putting it up now because I don't see myself "finishing" either in the near future, and having an imperfect version out there is better than nothing.

Together with my translation I include an 18th c. Latin translation for Greekless readers, and the Greek text. The text is coded for a popular scholarly Greek font. I may scan the text someday. Scholars will find the text on the TLG (Thesaurus Lingae Graecae) CD-ROM.

The Greek word elaia means "olive." The word came to be applied to moles, presumably because they are dark and rounded. Sometimes it was generalized to "blemish," as is done with the Latin equivalent, Naevus. I posit that it could also meant "birthmark" or apply to other permanent or long-lasting skin marks. This is because the text of the Peri Elaion refers to some "moles" being "ruddy" in color. I've never seen a ruddy mole, but "port wine stains" are the most common form of birthmarks. To my knowledge, Greek don't get the Irishman's red-tan freckles. Greeks with unusual dermatological conditions are invited to send jpegs.

Mole-divination was apparently not a major preoccupation of professional Greek diviners. There are very few references to the practice (fewer, for example, than to twitch-divination). There are some casual mentions in the physiognomists. It may well have been considered a "low" form of divination, as astrology and oneiromancy were considered "high" and therefore worth literary and philosophical noodling. There were occasional "significant" birthmarks. Seleucus, the first Macedonian king of Syria and his descendants were alleged to have received from Apollo an anchor birthmark on their thigh.

The most recent edition of Melampos' Peri Elaion Tou Somatos was published in 1780 by J. G. F. Franz in his Scriptores Physiognomoniae Veteres (Ancient Authors of Physiognomy). Franz's edition, in turn, drew on earlier editions. There is certainly need for a comprehensive reexamination of the original Greek manuscripts, and a search for Arabic and other translations.

In the manuscripts, Peri Elaion Tou Somatos follows Melampos' far longer Peri Palmon Mantikes (On Divination by Twitches). My translation of that is "in the works" (don't hold your breath).

It is difficult to say whether "On Birthmarks" was originally only 450 words, but it is possible that it was longer. On Twitches comes in a number of abbreviated versions. It also wanes less verbose as it progresses.

There's a early-modern Greek edition of this work in manuscript. I believe it to be a straight translation into a puzzling vernacular--I am no authority on post-Classical Greek--but it might have some other source-relationship to the foregoing. If you're interested I'll dig it out.

Girolamo Cardano (1501-1576), La metoposcopie... (Paris, 1658). This is a book of diagrams explicating the significance of facial wrinkles, with a simple text of Melampos and a French translation.

#	English Translation	Latin translation (Franz 1780)	Greek Text
	The Interpretation of Birthmarks by Melampos the Scribe to King Ptolemy	Melampodis Scriptorissacri Divinatio Ex Naevis Corporis ad Regem Ptolemaeum.	MELAMPODOS IEROGRAMMATEVS PERI ELAIVN TOU SVMATOS MANTIKH PROS PTOLEMAION BASILEA
1	If the mark is on the forehead of a man he will be master of many men. And if on the forehead of a woman, the woman will reign, or be the greatest.	Si sit (naevus) in fronte viri, is multorum bonorum erit dominus: At si in mulieris fronte, illa regnabit, aut erit maxima.	Eån §stÐn (§la¤a) eÞw tÚ m°tvpon toË éndrÚw, poll«n égay«n ¶stai kÊriow. EÞ d¢ eÞw tÚ m°tvpon tƒw gunaikÚw, ¾ gunØ basileÊsei, µ meg¤sth ®stai.
2	If outside the eyebrow of a man, he will take a good and beautiful wife; if of a woman and her skin is ruddy, she will take a rich and handsome husband. But if it is upon the eyebrow of a man, one must not marry him, because he will be the husband of five wives. The same also for a woman.	Si extra supercilia viri, uxorem bonam et formosam adipiscetur: Set si (extra supercilium) mulieris, et eius color sit flavus, reperiet maritum divitem et formosum. Si autem in viri superciliis, non debet matriomonium contrhere, quia quinque uxrum maritus fieret. Idem etiam in muliere (continget).	ÉEån ¶jv t«n ÙfrÊvn toË éndrÚw, lambãnei gunaðka égayØn, kaÐ eÎmorfon: eÞ d¢ gunaikÚw, kaÐ ¶stin ¾ xroÐa aÈtƒw pur=å, lambãnei êndra ploÊsion, kaÐ eÎmorfon. EÞ d¢ §pÐ t«n ÙfrÊvn toË éndrÚw, oÈ deð suzugƒnai aÈtÚn, —ti p°nte gunaik«n énØr genÆsetai. TÚ aÈtÚ kaÐ §pÐ tƒw gunaikÒw.
3	If it is on the nose of a man, and his skin is ruddy, he will be insatiate in lovemaking, also when she has a birthmark also upon the privates. If it is on the nose or the eye of a woman, the same will happen as with a man, this too when he has a birthmark on her privates. If upon the side of the nose of a man, he will go abroad from land to land. If upon a woman she will have smelly feet, this too when she has a birthmark on her privates.	Si fit in naso viri, et eius color flavuus fit, insatiabilis erit in coitu, quin etiam naevum habet in occulto. Si sit in naso, aut in oculo mulieris, idem ei continget ac viro, quin etiam ipsa in occulto naevum habet. Si ad latus nasi maris, peregrinabitur de regione in regionem. In femina vero, pedibus debilis fiet, quin etiam in abdito naevum habet.	ÉEån ¬ eÞw tØn =¤na toË éndrÚw, kaÐ ¾ xroiå aÈtoË ¶stai pur=a, ékÒrestow ¶stai tƒw sunous¤aw, —ti kaÐ eÞw tÚ kruptÚn ¶xei §la¤an. ÉEån ¬ eÞw tØn =¤na „ eÞw tÚn ÙfyalmÚn tƒw gunaikÚw, žmo¤vw épobÆsetai t³ éndrÐ, —ti kaÐ aÈtØ eÞw tÚ kruptÚn §la¤an ¶xei. ÉEån eÞw tÚ plãgion tƒw =inÚw toË éndrÚw, jeniteÊsei épÚ x‰raw eÞw x‰ran. ÉEpÐ d¢ gunaikÚw, kakopod¤na genÆsetai, —ti kaÐ eÞw kruptÚn §la¤an ¶xei.
4	If upon the cheek of a man, he will be rich. Upon a women, if upon the lower portion of the jaw, she will be emotional, this too when she has one on her paunch.	Si in gena viri, dives evadet: In femina vero, si in parte inferiori maxillae, perturbata erit, immo etiam in hypograstrio habet (naevum.)	ÉEån eÞw tÚ mãgoulon toË éndrÚw, ploÊsiow genÆsetai. ÉEpÐ d¢ gunaikÚw, §ån eÞw tÚ kãtv m°row toË siagÒnow, §mpayØw ¶stai, —ti kaÐ eÞw tÚ Ípogãstrion ¶xei.
5	If upon the tongue of a man, he will take a rich and beautiful wife.	Si in lingua viri, nanciscetur uxorem opulentam et pulcram.	ÉEån eÞw tØn gl«ssan toË éndrÚw, lÆcetai gunaðka plous¤an, kaÐ kalÆn.
6	If the mark is upon the lips of a man, he will be an overeater. The same applies to a woman.	Si in labiis viri naeus sit, maximus erit helvo. Perinde et in mulieribus.	ÉEån eÞw xe¤lh toË éndrÚw §la¤a ¬, polÊfagaw ¶stai. ÑOmo¤vw kaÐ §pÐ gunaik«n.
7	If a man has a mark on his chin (or wattles), he will be rich in gold and silver. The same also for a woman, when she has one on her spleen.	Si in mento vir habet naevum, dives erit auri atque argenti. Idem etiam in mullere, quin etiam (naevum) versus lienem habet.	ÉEån eÞw tÚn p‰gvna ¶xei ž énØr §la¤an, ploÊsiow ¶stai xrus¤Ÿ kaÐ érgur¤Ÿ. TÚ aÈtÚ kaÐ §pÐ gunaikÚw, —ti kaÐ eÞw tÚn splƒna ¶xei.
8	If a man has one on his ear, he will be rich and respected. The same also for a woman, when she has a mark on her thigh.	Si in auribus vir (naevum) habet, opulentus erit et bonae famae. Idem et in muliere,[?] quin etiam naevum in femine habet.	ÉEån eÞw tå ‘ta ¶xei ž énØr, ploÊsiow kaÐ eÈloghm°now ¶stai. TÚ aÈtÚ kaÐ §pÐ gunaikÚw, —ti kaÐ eÞw tÚn mhrÚn §la¤an ¶xei.
9	If a man has one on his throat, he will be very rich. The same also for a woman.	Si in collo (naevum) vir habet, erit admodum dives. Similiter et femina.	Eån eÞw tÚn trãxhlon ¶xei ž énØr, ploÊsiow ¶stai sfÒdra. ÑOmo¤vw kaÐ §pÐ gunaikÒw.
10	If a man has it on the back of his throat, he will be beheaded.	Si pone cervicem vir (naevum) habet, decollabitur.	ÉEån eÞw tÚn aÈx°na ¶xei Ùp¤sv ž énØr épokefal¤zetai.
11	If upon the muscles of the loins, he will be a begar and raise unlucky children. For a woman the same.	Si in lumbis, mendicus erit et infortunatus baiulus fuae progeniei. Mulier similiter.	ÉEån eÞw tåw cÊaw, ptvxÚw ¶sai kaÐ étuxØw bastãzvn g°nouw. ÉEpÐ gunaikÚw žmo¤vw.
12	If upon the shoulder, he will be bound and oppressed.	Si in humeris, captivus erit et afflictus.	ÉEån eÞw toÁw mouw, d°smiow ¶stai, kaÐ ylibÒmenow.
13	If upon the arm-pit, he will take a rich and beautiful woman. And a woman likewise.	Si in axilla reperiet divitem atque formosam coniugem. Ita et mulier.	Eån eÞw tØn mãlhn, lÆcetai gunaðka polous¤an kaÐ kalØn. KaÐ ¾ gunØ žmoi«w.
14	If upon the hands, he will have many children. And the woman likewise.	Si in manibus, multorum liberorum parens erit. Sic etiam mulier.	ÉEån eÞw tåw xeðraw, polÊteknow ¶stai. KaÐ ¾ gunØ žmo¤vw.
15	If upon the chest, he will be poor. And the woman likewise.	Si in pectore, pauper erit. Etiam et mulier.	ÉEån eÞw tÚ stƒyow, p°nhw ¶stai. KaÐ ¾ gunØ žmo¤vw.
16	If over the heart, he will be very miserable. But this will occurr to a woman, when the mark is on her breast.	Si supra cor, nequissimus erit: Mulieri autem idem contingit, quum in mammilla naevum habet.	ÉEån §pãnv tƒw kard¤aw, polupÒnhrow ¶stai. Tª d¢ gunaikÐ toËto sumba¤nei, —tan eÞw tÚn mastÚn tØn §la¤an ¶xei.
17	If upon the belly, both will be gluttons.	Si in ventre, ambo erunt voraces.	ÉEån eÞw tØn koil¤an, fãgoi émfÒteroi ¶sontai.
18	If on the spleen, emotional and sickly.	Si in liene, infirmi et valitudinarii.	ÉEån eÞw tÚn splƒna, §mpayeðw kaÐ §p¤nosoi.
19	If on the paunch, they will be emotional.	Si in hypograstrio, morbidi erunt.	ÉEån eÞw tÚ Ípogãstrion, §mpayeðw ¶sontai.
20	If on the privates, they will be insatiate for lovemaking.	Si in occulto, intemperantes erunt in revenere.	ÉEån eÞw tÚ kruptÚn, êplhstoi ¶sontai ÍpÚ tƒw sunous¤aw.
21	If on the penis, while the man will be a bearer of male children, the woman will be the opposite.	Si in genitali, vir quidem erit marium procreator: Mulier autem contra.	ÉEån eÞw tÚ fusikÚn, ž m¢n énØr ér=enÒgunow ¶stai: ¾ d¢ gunØ toÈant¤on.
22	If on the thigh, they will be rich.	Si in femore, divites erunt.	ÉEån eÞw tÚn merÚn, ploÊsioi ¶sontai.
23	If on the knees, he will take a rich wife. And if a woman, if on the left knee, she will be good, but and if on the right, she will be fruitful.	Si in genubus, (vir) acquiret uxorem divitem: Mulier autem, si in dextro genu, proba erit; set si sinistro, multae prolis genitrix erit.	ÉEån eÞw tå gÒnata, lÆcetai gunaðka plous¤an. ÑH d¢ gunØ, eÞ d¢ eÞw tÚ dejiÒn gÒnu, égayØ ¶stai: eÞ d¢ eÞw tÚ éristerÚn, polÊteknow ¶stai.
24	If upon the ankle a man will get an unbeautiful wife who dresses well (??); but the woman, gets a husband of wealth (??).	Si in calcaneo, vir (uxorem) tunica spoliatam faciet, ut et mulier maritum auctoritate.	ÉEån eÞw tÚn éstrãgalon ž énØr (tØn gunaðka) éprÒsvpon poieð épÚ tƒw xitvn¤aw: ¾ d¢ gunØ, tÚn êndra apÚ tƒw §jous¤aw.
25	If they have a mark on the feet, they will be fruitful.	Sed si in pedibus naevum habeant, multorum liberorum parentes erunt.	EÞ d¢ eÞw toÁw pÒdaw ¶xousin §la¤an, polÊteknoi ¶sontai.
26	So is the interpretation for men and women; if the mark is on the left side, they will be rich and good of all things; if on the right side, emotional and poor.	Observa itaque in viris et mulieribus. Si naevus sit in partibus dextris, divites et probi omnino fient: Si vero in sinistris, morbosi et inopes erunt.	Shme¤vsai oÔn tÚ §pÐ éndr«n kaÐ gunaik«n: §ån ¬ ¾ §la¤a eÞw tå dejiå m°rh, ploÊsioi kaÐ égayoÐ pãntvn genÆsontai: eÞ d¢ eÞw tå eÈ‰numa, §mpayeðw kaÐ ptvxoÐ ¶sontai.