The Deipnosophists

"The Deipnosophists", or "The Banquet of the Learned", is an expansive literary and historical treasury composed by Athenaeus of Naucratis. Written in the form of an intricate dialogue among scholars and connoisseurs at a grand banquet in Rome, the work serves as an invaluable compendium of ancient Greek culture, customs, and knowledge. Through the voices of its diners, Athenaeus preserves a staggering amount of information that would otherwise be lost to history, ranging from culinary arts and social etiquette to philosophy and legal practice.

In this fourth volume, the discourse continues with its characteristic blend of wit and erudition. The participants engage in deep explorations of gastronomy, detailing the variety of food and delicacies prized by the ancients, while simultaneously quoting extensively from the works of comic poets, historians, and philosophers. This volume is particularly significant for its preservation of fragments from hundreds of lost Greek plays and treatises, making it a cornerstone for students of classical literature and social history.

This translation captures the nuance and scholarly depth of the text, offering a fascinating window into the intellectual life and material culture of the Hellenistic and Roman worlds. It remains a primary source for anyone interested in the history of dining, the evolution of the Greek language, and the vibrant literary traditions of antiquity.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.