Athenaeus

Date of Birth: c. 170 AD

Zodiac Sign: Unknown

Date of Death: c. 223 AD

Biography

Athenaeus of Naucratis was an ancient Greek author and grammarian, best known for his work “Deipnosophistae” (The Banquet of the Learned). He was born in Naucratis, a Greek city in Egypt, during the late 2nd century AD. Athenaeus’s most famous work, “Deipnosophistae,” is a compilation of knowledge and quotations from a plethora of earlier texts, many of which have since been lost. This work, structured as a dialogue among learned men at a banquet, covers a wide range of topics including food, literature, and cultural history. Athenaeus’s writings provide a valuable glimpse into the life and customs of ancient Greece.

5 Interesting Facts about Athenaeus

1. Athenaeus’s “Deipnosophistae” is one of the primary sources for information about the culinary habits of ancient Greece and Rome.

2. He is believed to have lived and worked during the reigns of the Roman Emperors Commodus and Severus.

3. Athenaeus’s work preserves the fragments of nearly 800 authors, many of whose works have otherwise been lost to history.

4. “Deipnosophistae” is organized into fifteen books and is written in the form of a dialogue among scholars.

5. Athenaeus studied rhetoric and grammar, and his works reflect a deep knowledge of ancient literature and culture.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Athenaeus

1. “Good wine rejoices the heart of man and joy is the mother of all virtues.”

2. “We cultivate literature on a little oatmeal.”

3. “Old wine and an old friend are good provisions.”

4. “Every investigation which is guided by principles of Nature fixes its ultimate aim entirely on gratifying the stomach.”

5. “In a rich man’s house, there is no place to spit but his face.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

As an ancient author, specific financial details about Athenaeus’s net worth are not available. However, his intellectual contributions through “Deipnosophistae” have made him an invaluable figure in classical studies.