Menippus was a person who lived a really long time ago, like before your grandparents' grandparents' grandparents were even born. He was a philosopher, which means he was really smart and likes to think about big ideas.
The type of philosophy he was into was called Cynicism. It’s not like when someone is being cynical and saying that everything is terrible all the time, but it’s more about living a simple and honest life. Menippus believed things like happiness can be achieved by being content with what you have and not wanting more than you need.
He was also known for his jokes and funny stories, which he would use to make fun of people who were too serious or thought they were better than others. It’s kind of like when you tell a joke to make someone laugh and feel better.
Overall, Menippus was a smart guy who believed in living simply and making people laugh with his funny stories.