ATHENAEUS, of Naucratis in Egypt, Greek rhetorician and grammarian flourished about the end of the 2nd and the beginning of the 3rd century A.D. Suidas only tells us that he lived "in the times of Marcus"; but the contempt with which he speaks of Commodus (died 192) shows that he survived that emperor. Athenaeus himself states that he was the author of a treatise on the thratta—a kind of fish mentioned by Archippus and other comic poets—and of a history of the Syrian kings, both of which works are lost. We still possess the Deipnosophistae ("dinner table philosophers" or "authorities on banquets") in IS books. The first two books, and parts of the 3rd, nth and 15th, are extant only in epitome, but otherwise we seem to possess the work entire.
It is an immense store-house of miscellaneous information, chiefly on matters connected with the table, but also containing remarks on music, songs, dances, games, courtesans. It is full of quotations from writers whose works have not come down to us. It professes to be an account given by the author to his friend Timocrates of a banquet held at the house of Laurentius (or Larentius) a scholar and wealthy patron of art. It is thus a dia logue within a dialogue. The conversation ranges from the dishes before the guests to literary matters of every description, includ ing points of grammar and criticism; and they Are expected to bring with them extracts from the poets, which are read aloud and discussed at table. The plan is clumsy, but as a repertory of fragments and morsels of information the work is invaluable for Athenaeus refers to nearly Boo writers.