Characters of the Deipnosophistae

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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[edit]

Athenaeus of Naucratis[edit]

Athenaeus (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[edit]

Timocrates (Ancient Greek: Τιμοκράτης) is Athenaeus’ interlocutor (1.1a = 1.1).

Aemilian of Mauretania[edit]

Aemilianus of Mauretania (Ancient Greek: Αἰμιλιανὸς Μαυρούσιος) is a grammarian (e.g., 3.126b = 3.100).[7]

Alcides of Alexandria[edit]

Alceides of Alexandria (Ancient Greek: Ἀλκείδης Ἀλεξανδρεύς) is a musician (1.1f = 1.2; 4.174b = 4.75).[8]

Amoebeus[edit]

Amoebus (Ancient Greek: Ἀμοιβεύς) is a citharode (14.622d–e = 14.17).[8]

Arrian[edit]

Arrian (Ancient Greek: Ἀρριανός) is a grammarian (3.113a = 3.79).[8]

Cynulcus[edit]

Cynulcus (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[edit]

Daphnus of Ephesus (Ancient Greek: Δάφνος Ἐφέσιος) is a physician (e.g. 1.1e = 1.2; 2.51a = 2.35).[10]

Democritus of Nicomedia[edit]

Democritus of Nicomedia (Ancient Greek: Δημόκριτος Νίκομηδεύς) is a philosopher (1.1e = 1.2; 3.83c = 3.25).[11]

Dionysocles[edit]

Dionysocles (Ancient Greek: Διονυσοκλῆς is a physician (3.96d = 3.50, 116d = 3.84).

Galen of Pergamum[edit]

Galen of Pergamum (Ancient Greek: Γαληνός τε ὁ Περγαμηνός is the famous physician (e.g. 1.1e = 1.2, 26c = 1.48).

Larensius[edit]

Larensius 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[edit]

Leonides of Elis (Ancient Greek: Λεωνίδης ὁ Ἠλεῖος) is a grammarian (e.g.:1.1d = 1.2; 3.96d = 3.50).[11]

Magnus[edit]

Magnus (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[edit]

Masurius (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[edit]

Myrtilus of Thessaly (Ancient Greek: Μυρτίλος Θετταλικός) is a grammarian (e.g. 3.83a = 3.25).[12]

Palamedes the Eleatic[edit]

Palamedes the Eleatic (Ancient Greek: ὁ Ἐλεατικὸς Παλαμήδης) is a lexicographer (9.379a = 9.55).[13]

Philadelphus of Ptolemais[edit]

Philadelphus of Ptolemais (Ancient Greek: Φιλάδελφός τε ὁ Πτολεμαεύς) is a philosopher (1.1d = 1.2).[13]

Plutarch of Alexandria[edit]

Plutarch of Alexandria (Ancient Greek: Πλούταρχος) is a grammarian (e.g. 1.1c = 1.2; 3.83b = 3.25).[14]

Pontian of Nicomedia[edit]

Pontianus of Nicomedia (Ancient Greek: Ποντιανὸς Νικομηδεύς) is a philosopher (1.1d = 1.2; 3.109b = 3.74).[11]

Rufinus of Nicaea[edit]

Rufinus of Nicaea (Ancient Greek: Ῥουφῖνός τε ὁ Νικαεύς) is a physician (1.1f = 1.2).

Ulpian of Tyre[edit]

Ulpian 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[edit]

Varus (Ancient Greek: Οὔαρος is a grammarian (3.118d = 3.88).[14]

Zoilus[edit]

Zoilus (Ancient Greek: Ζωίλος) is a grammarian (e.g. 1.1d = 1.2; 7.277c = 7.5).[16]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Baldwin 1977, p. 37-48.
  2. ^ Olson 2006, p. xxiii.
  3. ^ Baldwin 1976, p. 21-42.
  4. ^ Braund & Wilkins 2000.
  5. ^ Brill's New Jacoby 166 F 1
  6. ^ Braund & Wilkins 2000, pp. 514–522.
  7. ^ Baldwin 1977, p. 39.
  8. ^ a b c Baldwin 1977, p. 41.
  9. ^ Baldwin 1977, p. 42.
  10. ^ Baldwin 1977, p. 43.
  11. ^ a b c d Baldwin 1977, p. 44.
  12. ^ a b Baldwin 1977, p. 45.
  13. ^ a b Baldwin 1977, p. 46.
  14. ^ a b Baldwin 1977, p. 47.
  15. ^ Baldwin 1977, p. 37.
  16. ^ 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)
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