Menippus

Mĕnippus, i, m., = Μένιππος.

• A Cynic philosopher famous for his bitter sarcasms, whence Varro gave to his satires the name of Menippeae, Cic. Ac. 1, 2, 8; Gell. 2, 18, 7; Macr. S. 1, 11, 42; 1, 7, 12; Arn. 6, 207. —
• II A great Asiatic orator in the time of Cicero, from Stratonice, Cic. Brut. 91, 315.

Menippus, ī, m. (Μένιππος), I) ein Philosoph von der zynischen Sekte voll beißenden Spottes, von Varro nachgeahmt, Cic. Acad. 1, 8. Macr. sat. 1, 11. § 42. – Dav. Menippēus, a, um (Μενίππειος), menippëisch, des Menippus, satirae Menippeae, Titel der Satiren Varros, Gell. 2, 18, 7. Macr. sat. 1, 7, 12; 1, 11, 42: haeresis, Varro sat. Men. 542. Vgl. F. Oehler M. Varronis Satur, Menipp. Reliq. p. 21 sqq. – dah. v. Varro selbst, Varro Menippeus, Arnob. 6, 23. Eutych. 2. § 1. p. 468, 2 K. – II) der größte der asiatischen Redner zu Ciceros Zeit, Cic. Brut. 315.

Mĕnippus, ī, m. (Μένιππος), ¶ 1 Ménippe [philosophe cynique] : Cic. Ac. 1, 8 ; Gell. 2, 18, 7 ; Macr. Sat. 1, 11, 42 || -ēus, a, um, de Ménippe : Varro Men. 542 ; Arn. 6, 23 ¶ 2 orateur de Stratonicée : Cic. Br. 315 ¶ 3 général de Philippe : Liv. 27, 32 || député dʼAntiochus : Liv. 34, 57, 6.

Menippus

(Μένιππος). (1) A Greek philosopher of Gadara in Syria, who flourished about B.C. 250. He was originally a slave, and afterwards an adherent of the Cynic School of philosophy. His writings (now completely lost) treated of the follies of mankind, especially of philosophers, in a sarcastic tone. They were a medley of prose and verse, and became models for the satirical works of Varro (hence called Saturae Menippeae), and afterwards for those of Lucian. (See satira.)

(2) A Carian orator of Cicero's time, and regarded by many as almost equal to the great Attic orators.

(3) A geographer of Pergamus, who, in the Augustan Age, wrote a Periplus, of which an abridgment was made by Marcianus (q.v.).