Mochus
（
Μωχός) a native of Phoenicia, the author of a work on Phoenician history quoted by Athenaeus (iii. p. 126a). Strabo (
xvi. p.757) speaks of one Mochus or Moschus (the reading varies) of Sidon, as the author of the atomic theory, and says that he was more ancient than the Trojan war.
This statement he gives on the authority of Posidonius.
It is impossible, of course, to tell from such a scanty notice whether he refers to the same person, or whether he really lived so early. It has generally been supposed that the Ochus mentioned by Diogenes Laertius (
1.1) is the same person as the Mochus referred to by Athenaeus. Suidas also calls him Ochus; but he has evidently only copied the passage in Diogenes Laertius.
But the mistake, if it is one, may easily have crept into the MSS. before his time. Josephus (
J. AJ 1.8. s. 5) refers to Mochus, as do also Tatianus (
ad v. Gent. p. 217) and Eusebius (
Praep. Evanig. x. p. 289). (Fabric.
Bilb. Graec. vol. i. p. 226, vol. iii. p. 807; Vossius,
de Hist. Graec. p. 471, ed. Westermann.)
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C.P.M]
