• 𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗮 or melancholy (from Greek: µέλαινα χολή melaina chole, meaning black bile) is a concept found throughout ancient, medieval, and premodern medicine in Europe that describes a condition characterized by markedly depressed mood, bodily complaints, and sometimes hallucinations and delusions.