Mela, Pomponius

, an ancient Latin writer, was born in the province of Boctica in Spain, and flourished in the first century, in the reign of the emperor Claudius. His three books of “Cosmography, or De situ Orbis,” are written in a concise, perspicuous, and elegant manner; and have been thought worthy of the attention and labours of the ablest critics. Isaac Vossius gave an edition of them in 1658, 4to, with very large and copious notes, in which he takes frequent occasion to criticize “Salmasius’s Commentaries upon Solinus.” James Gronovius published “Mela,” in 1658, 12mo, with shorter notes; in which, however, as if he resented Vossius’s treatment of Sahnasius, he censures his animadversions with some degree of severity. To this edition of Mela, is added, “Julii Honorii oratoris excerptum cosmographioe,” first published from the manuscript; and “Æthici Cosmographia.” Vossius answered the castigations of Gronovius, in an “Appendix to his Annotations,” 1686, 4to; but, dying the same year, |

left his manes to be insulted by Gronovius, in another edition of Mela immediately published, with illustrations by medals. In this last edition by Gronovius, are added five books, “De geographia,” written by some later author; by Jornandes, as Fabricius conjectures. Perhaps one of the best editions of Pomponius Mela, is that by Reynolds, printed at Exeter in 1711, 4to, illustrated with 27 maps, and which was reprinted at London, 1719 and 1739, and at Eton, 1761 and 1775, 4to. The last edition, collated with many Mss. is that by C. H. Tzschuckius, printed at Leipsic, 1807, 7 vols. 8vo. ¹