Characters of the Deipnosophistae explained

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. 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

Athenaeus of Naucratis

Athenaeus (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Ἀθήναιος) is the narrator of the Deipnosophistae and also a guest at the dinner party described in the work. 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).[1]

Timocrates

Timocrates (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Τιμοκράτης) is Athenaeus’ interlocutor (1.1a = 1.1).

Aemilian of Mauretania

Aemilianus of Mauretania (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Αἰμιλιανὸς Μαυρούσιος) is a grammarian (e.g., 3.126b = 3.100).

Alcides of Alexandria

Alceides of Alexandria (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Ἀλκείδης Ἀλεξανδρεύς) is a musician (1.1f = 1.2; 4.174b = 4.75).

Amoebeus

Amoebus (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Ἀμοιβεύς) is a citharode (14.622d–e = 14.17).

Arrian

Arrian (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Ἀρριανός) is a grammarian (3.113a = 3.79).

Cynulcus

Cynulcus (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Κύνουλκος is a Cynic philosopher whose given name is Theodorus (e.g. 1.1d = 1.2; 3.97c = 3.51).

Daphnus of Ephesus

Daphnus of Ephesus (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Δάφνος Ἐφέσιος) is a physician (e.g. 1.1e = 1.2; 2.51a = 2.35).

Democritus of Nicomedia

Democritus of Nicomedia (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Δημόκριτος Νίκομηδεύς) is a philosopher (1.1e = 1.2; 3.83c = 3.25).

Dionysocles

Dionysocles (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Διονυσοκλῆς is a physician (3.96d = 3.50, 116d = 3.84).

Galen of Pergamum

Galen of Pergamum (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Γαληνός τε ὁ Περγαμηνός is the famous physician (e.g. 1.1e = 1.2, 26c = 1.48).

Larensius

Larensius of Rome (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: 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

Leonides of Elis (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Λεωνίδης ὁ Ἠλεῖος) is a grammarian (e.g.:1.1d = 1.2; 3.96d = 3.50).

Magnus

Magnus (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Μάγνος) is defined as philotrápezos (fond of the table), but is not associated with any professions or arts (e.g. 3.74c = 3.6).

Masurius

Masurius (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: 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).

Myrtilus of Thessaly

Myrtilus of Thessaly (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Μυρτίλος Θετταλικός) is a grammarian (e.g. 3.83a = 3.25).

Palamedes the Eleatic

Palamedes the Eleatic (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ὁ Ἐλεατικὸς Παλαμήδης) is a lexicographer (9.379a = 9.55).

Philadelphus of Ptolemais

Philadelphus of Ptolemais (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Φιλάδελφός τε ὁ Πτολεμαεύς) is a philosopher (1.1d = 1.2).

Plutarch of Alexandria

Plutarch of Alexandria (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Πλούταρχος) is a grammarian (e.g. 1.1c = 1.2; 3.83b = 3.25).

Pontian of Nicomedia

Pontianus of Nicomedia (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Ποντιανὸς Νικομηδεύς) is a philosopher (1.1d = 1.2; 3.109b = 3.74).

Rufinus of Nicaea

Rufinus of Nicaea (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Ῥουφῖνός τε ὁ Νικαεύς) is a physician (1.1f = 1.2).

Ulpian of Tyre

Ulpian of Tyre (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: 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).

Varus

Varus (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Οὔαρος is a grammarian (3.118d = 3.88).

Zoilus

Zoilus (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Ζωίλος) is a grammarian (e.g. 1.1d = 1.2; 7.277c = 7.5).

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1873-5363_bnj_a166 Brill's New Jacoby 166 F 1