Nicarchus°

NICARCHUS° (date unknown), author of a book on the Jews in which he says that Moses was called Alpha because of the many leprous spots (alphous; cf. a similar canard in *Manetho) which he had on his body. (Alpha was an honorific title for senior members of the museum in Alexandria, and was regarded as synonymous with excellence.)

Sources: Encyclopaedia Judaica. © 2008 The Gale Group. All Rights Reserved.