This is a list of the 24 characters (deipnosophists or sophists at dinner) who take part in the banquet described by Athenaeus of Naucratis in the Deipnosophistae.[1][2] Some of them can be probably identified with great names of the past, but it is still debated if most of the Deipnosophists were fictions. A digital version of the index of the characters of the Deipnosophists published by Georg Kaibel is available through the Digital Athenaeus project (Dialogi Personae).
Characters
editAthenaeus of Naucratis
editAthenaeus (Ancient Greek: Ἀθήναιος) is the narrator of the Deipnosophistae and also a guest at the dinner party described in the work.[3][4] He is presented as the father of the book and as offering his account to Timocrates, imitating Plato in his dramatization of the dialogue. In the text we are informed that Athenaeus wrote also a work On the Kings of Syria (5.211a = 5.47 = FGrHist 166 F 1 = BNJ 166 F 1) and a private treatise on small sea-fishes (thraittai) (7.329c = 7.138).[5][6]
Timocrates
editTimocrates (Ancient Greek: Τιμοκράτης) is Athenaeus’ interlocutor (1.1a = 1.1).
Aemilian of Mauretania
editAemilianus of Mauretania (Ancient Greek: Αἰμιλιανὸς Μαυρούσιος) is a grammarian (e.g., 3.126b = 3.100).[7]
Alcides of Alexandria
editAlceides of Alexandria (Ancient Greek: Ἀλκείδης Ἀλεξανδρεύς) is a musician (1.1f = 1.2; 4.174b = 4.75).[8]
Amoebeus
editAmoebus (Ancient Greek: Ἀμοιβεύς) is a citharode (14.622d–e = 14.17).[8]
Arrian
editArrian (Ancient Greek: Ἀρριανός) is a grammarian (3.113a = 3.79).[8]
Cynulcus
editCynulcus (Ancient Greek: Κύνουλκος is a Cynic philosopher whose given name is Theodorus (e.g. 1.1d = 1.2; 3.97c = 3.51).[9]
Daphnus of Ephesus
editDaphnus of Ephesus (Ancient Greek: Δάφνος Ἐφέσιος) is a physician (e.g. 1.1e = 1.2; 2.51a = 2.35).[10]
Democritus of Nicomedia
editDemocritus of Nicomedia (Ancient Greek: Δημόκριτος Νίκομηδεύς) is a philosopher (1.1e = 1.2; 3.83c = 3.25).[11]
Dionysocles
editDionysocles (Ancient Greek: Διονυσοκλῆς is a physician (3.96d = 3.50, 116d = 3.84).
Galen of Pergamum
editGalen of Pergamum (Ancient Greek: Γαληνός τε ὁ Περγαμηνός is the famous physician (e.g. 1.1e = 1.2, 26c = 1.48).
Larensius
editLarensius of Rome (Ancient Greek: Λαρήνσιος Ῥωμαῖος) is identified with Publius Livius Larensis, a Roman official and also host of the party of the Deipnosophistae (e.g. 1.1a = 1.1; 2.50f = 2.35).
Leonides of Elis
editLeonides of Elis (Ancient Greek: Λεωνίδης ὁ Ἠλεῖος) is a grammarian (e.g.:1.1d = 1.2; 3.96d = 3.50).[11]
Magnus
editMagnus (Ancient Greek: Μάγνος) is defined as philotrápezos (fond of the table), but is not associated with any professions or arts (e.g. 3.74c = 3.6).[11]
Masurius
editMasurius (Ancient Greek: Μανσούριος) is a jurist, poet and musician, and can be probably identified with Masurius Sabinus (e.g. 1.1c = 1.2; 14.623e = 14.18).[12]
Myrtilus of Thessaly
editMyrtilus of Thessaly (Ancient Greek: Μυρτίλος Θετταλικός) is a grammarian (e.g. 3.83a = 3.25).[12]
Palamedes the Eleatic
editPalamedes the Eleatic (Ancient Greek: ὁ Ἐλεατικὸς Παλαμήδης) is a lexicographer (9.379a = 9.55).[13]
Philadelphus of Ptolemais
editPhiladelphus of Ptolemais (Ancient Greek: Φιλάδελφός τε ὁ Πτολεμαεύς) is a philosopher (1.1d = 1.2).[13]
Plutarch of Alexandria
editPlutarch of Alexandria (Ancient Greek: Πλούταρχος) is a grammarian (e.g. 1.1c = 1.2; 3.83b = 3.25).[14]
Pontian of Nicomedia
editPontianus of Nicomedia (Ancient Greek: Ποντιανὸς Νικομηδεύς) is a philosopher (1.1d = 1.2; 3.109b = 3.74).[11]
Rufinus of Nicaea
editRufinus of Nicaea (Ancient Greek: Ῥουφῖνός τε ὁ Νικαεύς) is a physician (1.1f = 1.2).
Ulpian of Tyre
editUlpian of Tyre (Ancient Greek: Οὐλπιανὸς ὁ Τύριος) is a grammarian and also symposiarch and possibly father of the famous jurist Ulpian (e.g. 1.1d = 1.2; 2.49a = 2.32).[15]
Varus
editVarus (Ancient Greek: Οὔαρος is a grammarian (3.118d = 3.88).[14]
Zoilus
editZoilus (Ancient Greek: Ζωίλος) is a grammarian (e.g. 1.1d = 1.2; 7.277c = 7.5).[16]
References
edit- ^ Baldwin 1977, p. 37-48.
- ^ Olson 2006, p. xxiii.
- ^ Baldwin 1976, p. 21-42.
- ^ Braund & Wilkins 2000.
- ^ Brill's New Jacoby 166 F 1
- ^ Braund & Wilkins 2000, pp. 514–522.
- ^ Baldwin 1977, p. 39.
- ^ a b c Baldwin 1977, p. 41.
- ^ Baldwin 1977, p. 42.
- ^ Baldwin 1977, p. 43.
- ^ a b c d Baldwin 1977, p. 44.
- ^ a b Baldwin 1977, p. 45.
- ^ a b Baldwin 1977, p. 46.
- ^ a b Baldwin 1977, p. 47.
- ^ Baldwin 1977, p. 37.
- ^ Baldwin 1977, p. 48.
Bibliography
edit- Baldwin, Barry (1976). "Athenaeus and His Work". Acta Classica. 19: 21–42. JSTOR 24591503.
- Baldwin, Barry (1977). "The Minor Characters in Athenaeus". Acta Classica. 20: 37–48. JSTOR 24591523.
- Braund, David; Wilkins, John, eds. (2000). Athenaeus and His World: Reading Greek Culture in the Roman Empire. Exeter. ISBN 9780859896610.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Olson, S. Douglas, ed. (2006). The Learned Banqueters Vol. 1. Cambridge, MA. ISBN 9780674996205.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)