AMPELIUS, LUCIUS, possibly a tutor or schoolmaster, and author of an extremely concise summary—a kind of index— of universal history (Liber Memorialis) from the earliest times to the reign of Trajan. The little work, in 5o chapters, gives a sketch of cosmography, geography, mythology (chaps. i–x.) and history (chap. x.–end). The historical portion, dealing mainly with the republican period, is untrustworthy, and the text in many places corrupt ; the earlier chapters are more valuable and contain some interesting information. In chap. viii. (Miracula Mundi) occurs a reference to the famous sculptures of Pergamum, discovered in 1871, excavated in 1878, and now at Berlin: "At Pergamum there is a great marble altar, 4oft. high, with colossal sculptures, repre senting a battle of the giants." Nothing is known of the author. The first edition of Ampelius was published in 1638 by Salmasius (Saumaise) from the Dijon ms., since lost, together with the Epitome of Florus ; the latest edition is by Wolfflin (1854) , based on Salmasius's copy of the lost codex.
See Glaser, Rheinisches Museum, ii. (1843) ; Zink, Eos, ii. (1866) ; Wolfflin, De L. Ampelii Libro Memoriali (1854).