Melissos of Samos

Melissos of Samos was a disciple of Heracleitus and Parmenides. He belonged to the Elean school. He was mainly interested in the concept of "being", to which he added the spatial and temporal attributes of infinity. He identified the concept of "non-being" with empty space. He reformulated the old Homeric concept of "hylé" and gave it the meaning of matter.

In politics, he stood in opposition to Pericles.

According to some sources, in 442 BC he commanded the Samian fleet that defeated the Athenians.