GREEK DIVINATION BY BIRTHMARK OR MOLES

Melampus, On Moles

An Ancient Greek Manual of Divination by Bodily Marks, translated by Tim Spalding, ©1999-
2003

Introduction to the Translation

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.

Feel free to email me at editor@isidore-of-seville.com.

Greek Divination by Moles and Birthmarks

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.

Introductory Thoughts on the Text

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.

Editions

J. G. F. Franz, Scriptores Physiognomoniae Veteres (Altenbug, 1780)

Meletius, monk. De natura stucturaque hominis opus (Venice, 1552).

Peruscus, Camillus, Ailianou poikiles historias... (Venice?, 1545)

Translations

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.

Latin translation
# English Translation Greek Text
(Franz 1780)

The Interpretation of Melampodis MELAMPODOS

Birthmarks by Melampos the Scriptorissacri IEROGRAMMATEVS
Scribe to King Ptolemy Divinatio Ex Naevis PERI ELAIVN TOU
Corporis ad Regem SVMATOS MANTIKH
Ptolemaeum. PROS PTOLEMAION
BASILEA

1 If the mark is on the Si sit (naevus) in fronte E�n �st�n (�la�a)

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.
viri, is multorum e�w t� m�tvpon to�
bonorum erit dominus: �ndr�w, poll�n
At si in mulieris fronte, �gay�n �stai
illa regnabit, aut erit k�riow. E� d� e�w
maxima. t� m�tvpon t�w
gunaik�w, � gun�
basile�sei, � meg�sth
 �stai.

2 If outside the eyebrow of a Si extra supercilia viri, �E�n �jv t�n

man, he will take a good and uxorem bonam et �fr�vn to�
beautiful wife; if of a woman formosam adipiscetur: �ndr�w, lamb�nei
and her skin is ruddy, she Set si (extra guna�ka �gay�n,
will take a rich and supercilium) mulieris, ka� e�morfon: e�
handsome husband. But if it et eius color sit flavus, d� gunaik�w, ka�
is upon the eyebrow of a reperiet maritum �stin � xro�a
man, one must not marry divitem et formosum. Si a�t�w pur=�,
him, because he will be the autem in viri superciliis, lamb�nei �ndra
husband of five wives. The non debet plo�sion, ka�
same also for a woman. matriomonium e�morfon. E� d�
contrhere, quia quinque �p� t�n �fr�vn
uxrum maritus fieret. to� �ndr�w, o�
Idem etiam in muliere de� suzug�nai
(continget). a�t�n, �ti p�nte
gunaik�n �n�r
gen�setai. T� a�t�
ka� �p� t�w
gunaik�w.

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.
�E�n � e�w t�n
=�na to� �ndr�w,
ka� � xroi� a�to�
�stai pur=a,
�k�restow �stai t�w
sunous�aw, �ti ka�
e�w t� krupt�n �xei
�la�an. �E�n �
e�w t�n =�na �
e�w t�n �fyalm�n
t�w gunaik�w,
�mo�vw �pob�setai
t� �ndr�, �ti ka�
a�t� e�w t�
krupt�n �la�an
�xei. �E�n e�w t�
pl�gion t�w =in�w
to� �ndr�w,
jenite�sei �p�
x�raw e�w x�ran.
�Ep� d� gunaik�w,

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.
5 If upon the tongue of a man,
he will take a rich and
beautiful wife.
6 If the mark is upon the lips
of a man, he will be an
overeater. The same applies
to a woman.
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.
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
kakopod�na
gen�setai, �ti ka�
e�w krupt�n �la�an
�xei.
Si in gena viri, dives �E�n e�w t�
evadet: In femina vero, m�goulon to�
si in parte inferiori �ndr�w, plo�siow
maxillae, perturbata gen�setai. �Ep� d�
erit, immo etiam in gunaik�w, ��n e�w
hypograstrio habet t� k�tv m�row to�
(naevum.) siag�now, �mpay�w
�stai, �ti ka� e�w
t� �pog�strion �xei.
Si in lingua viri, �E�n e�w t�n
nanciscetur uxorem gl�ssan to� �ndr�w,
opulentam et pulcram. l�cetai guna�ka
plous�an, ka� kal�n.
Si in labiis viri naeus �E�n e�w xe�lh
sit, maximus erit helvo. to� �ndr�w �la�a
Perinde et in �, pol�fagaw �stai.
mulieribus. �Omo�vw ka� �p�
gunaik�n.
Si in mento vir habet �E�n e�w t�n
naevum, dives erit auri p�gvna �xei �
atque argenti. Idem �n�r �la�an,
etiam in mullere, quin plo�siow �stai
etiam (naevum) versus xrus�� ka�
lienem habet. �rgur��. T� a�t�
ka� �p� gunaik�w,
�ti ka� e�w t�n
spl�na �xei.
Si in auribus vir �E�n e�w t� �ta
(naevum) habet, �xei � �n�r,
opulentus erit et bonae plo�siow ka�
famae. Idem et in e�loghm�now �stai.
 thigh. muliere,[?] quin etiam T� a�t� ka� �p�
naevum in femine gunaik�w, �ti ka�
habet. e�w t�n mhr�n
�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 E�n e�w t�n
habet, erit admodum tr�xhlon �xei �
dives. Similiter et �n�r, plo�siow �stai
femina. sf�dra. �Omo�vw
ka� �p� gunaik�w.

10 If a man has it on the back of Si pone cervicem vir �E�n e�w t�n
his throat, he will be (naevum) habet, a�x�na �xei �p�sv
beheaded. decollabitur. � �n�r
�pokefal�zetai.

11 If upon the muscles of the Si in lumbis, mendicus �E�n e�w t�w

loins, he will be a begar and
raise unlucky children. For a
woman the same.
erit et infortunatus c�aw, ptvx�w �sai
baiulus fuae progeniei. ka� �tux�w
Mulier similiter. bast�zvn g�nouw.
�Ep� gunaik�w
�mo�vw.

12 If upon the shoulder, he will Si in humeris, captivus �E�n e�w to�w

be bound and oppressed. erit et afflictus. �mouw, d�smiow
�stai, ka�
ylib�menow.

13 If upon the arm-pit, he will Si in axilla reperiet E�n e�w t�n m�lhn,
take a rich and beautiful divitem atque l�cetai guna�ka
woman. And a woman formosam coniugem. polous�an ka� kal�n.
likewise. Ita et mulier. Ka� � gun�
�moi�w.

14 If upon the hands, he will Si in manibus, �E�n e�w t�w

have many children. And the multorum liberorum xe�raw, pol�teknow
woman likewise. parens erit. Sic etiam �stai. Ka� � gun�
mulier. �mo�vw.
15 If upon the chest, he will be Si in pectore, pauper �E�n e�w t�
poor. And the woman erit. Etiam et mulier. st�yow, p�nhw �stai.
likewise. Ka� � gun�
�mo�vw.

16 If over the heart, he will be Si supra cor, �E�n �p�nv t�w

very miserable. But this will nequissimus erit: kard�aw,
occurr to a woman, when the Mulieri autem idem polup�nhrow �stai.
mark is on her breast. contingit, quum in T� d� gunaik�
mammilla naevum to�to sumba�nei,
habet. �tan e�w t�n
mast�n t�n �la�an
�xei.

17 If upon the belly, both will be Si in ventre, ambo �E�n e�w t�n
gluttons. erunt voraces. koil�an, f�goi
�mf�teroi �sontai.

18 If on the spleen, emotional Si in liene, infirmi et �E�n e�w t�n

and sickly. valitudinarii. spl�na, �mpaye�w
ka� �p�nosoi.

19 If on the paunch, they will be Si in hypograstrio, �E�n e�w t�

emotional. morbidi erunt. �pog�strion,
�mpaye�w �sontai.

20 If on the privates, they will Si in occulto, �E�n e�w t�

be insatiate for lovemaking. intemperantes erunt in krupt�n, �plhstoi
revenere. �sontai �p� t�w
sunous�aw.

21 If on the penis, while the man Si in genitali, vir �E�n e�w t�

will be a bearer of male quidem erit marium fusik�n, � m�n
children, the woman will be procreator: Mulier �n�r �r=en�gunow
the opposite. autem contra. �stai: � d� gun�
to�ant�on.
22 If on the thigh, they will be Si in femore, divites �E�n e�w t�n
rich. erunt. mer�n, plo�sioi
�sontai.

23 If on the knees, he will take a Si in genubus, (vir) �E�n e�w t�

rich wife. And if a woman, if acquiret uxorem g�nata, l�cetai
on the left knee, she will be divitem: Mulier autem, guna�ka plous�an.
good, but and if on the right, si in dextro genu, proba �H d� gun�, e� d�
she will be fruitful. erit; set si sinistro, e�w t� deji�n g�nu,
multae prolis genitrix �gay� �stai: e� d�
erit. e�w t� �rister�n,
pol�teknow �stai.

24 If upon the ankle a man will Si in calcaneo, vir �E�n e�w t�n
get an unbeautiful wife who (uxorem) tunica �str�galon � �n�r
dresses well (??); but the spoliatam faciet, ut et (t�n guna�ka)
woman, gets a husband of mulier maritum �pr�svpon poie�
wealth (??). auctoritate. �p� t�w xitvn�aw:
� d� gun�, t�n
�ndra ap� t�w
�jous�aw.

25 If they have a mark on the Sed si in pedibus E� d� e�w to�w

feet, they will be fruitful. naevum habeant, p�daw �xousin
multorum liberorum �la�an, pol�teknoi
parentes erunt. �sontai.

26 So is the interpretation for Observa itaque in viris Shme�vsai o�n t�

men and women; if the mark et mulieribus. Si naevus �p� �ndr�n ka�
is on the left side, they will be sit in partibus dextris, gunaik�n: ��n � �
rich and good of all things; if divites et probi omnino �la�a e�w t� deji�
on the right side, emotional fient: Si vero in m�rh, plo�sioi ka�
and poor. sinistris, morbosi et �gayo� p�ntvn
inopes erunt. gen�sontai: e� d�
e�w t� eȉnuma,
�mpaye�w ka�
ptvxo� �sontai.