Melite, Ancient deme in central Athens, Greece.

Melite was a deme in central Athens that extended across the western part of the city, encompassing the Agora and the Pnyx near the Acropolis walls. This administrative district was defined by its central location and proximity to major public spaces and gathering areas.

The deme gained prominence after Cleisthenes' reforms in 508 BCE, when it became part of the Kekropis tribe within a reorganized administrative system. This restructuring shaped Athenian political life for centuries that followed.

The deme's name comes from Melite, daughter of Myrmex, who was said to have initiated Heracles into the Eleusinian Mysteries. A sanctuary of Heracles held a statue by Phidias or his teacher Ageladas, set up to mark the end of an epidemic in 429 BCE. Eurysaces, son of Ajax, had a sanctuary where he was worshipped with his father; his descendants included Alcibiades.

The deme occupied a central location in Athens, making it attractive for those wanting to live near the Agora and Pnyx. This prime position drew people who wished to participate actively in public affairs and community life.

The honey etymology is a modern reading: in the 19th and 20th centuries scholars instead linked the name to Phoenician, since Melite is homophone with ancient names of Malta and Samothrace. The deme's own founder figure, Melite, was daughter of Myrmex and was said to have initiated Heracles into the Eleusinian Mysteries.