The first two books, and portions of the third, eleventh, and fifteenth, exist only in an Epitome, of which both the date and author are unknown. It soon, however, became more common than the original work, and eventually in a great degree superseded it. Indeed Bentley has proved that the only knowledge which, in the time of Eustathius, existed of Athenæus, was through its medium. Athenæus was also the author of a book entitled, "On the Kings of Syria," of which no portion has come down to us. The text which has been adopted in the present translation is that of Schweighäuser. C. D. Y. CONTENTS. BOOK I.--EPITOME. The Character of Laurentius--Hospitable and Liberal Men-- Those who have written about Feasts--Epicures--The Praises of Wine--Names of Meals--Fashions at Meals--Dances--Games --Baths--Partiality of the Greeks for Amusements--Dancing and Dancers--Use of some Words--Exercise--Kinds of Food-- Different kinds of Wine--The Produce of various places-- Different Wines 1-57 BOOK II.--EPITOME. Wine--Drinking--The evils of Drunkenness--Praises of Wine --Water--Different kinds of Water--Sweetmeats--Couches and Coverlets--Names of Fruits--Fruit and Herbs--Lupins--Names of--Plants--Eggs--Gourds--Mushrooms--Asparagus--Onions-- Thrushes--Brains--The Head--Pickle--Cucumbers--Lettuce-- The Cactus--The Nile 57-121 BOOK III. Cucumbers--Figs--Apples--Citrons--Limpets--Cockles-- Shell-fish--Oysters--Pearls--Tripe--Pigs' Feet--Music at Banquets--Puns on Words--Banquets--Dishes at Banquets-- Fish--Shell-fish--Fish--Cuttle-fish--Bread--Loaves--Fish-- Water Drinking--Drinking Snow--Cheesecakes--Χόνδοος 121-210 BOOK IV. Feast of Caranus--Supper of Iphicrates--Cooks--Dancing at Banquets--The Attic Banquet--Athenian Feasts--The Copis-- The Phiditia--Cleomenes--Persian Banquets--Alexander the Great--Cleopatra--Banquets at Phigalea--Thracian Banquets --Celtic Banquets--Roman Banquets--Gladiatorial Combats-- Temperance of the Lacedæmonians--The Theory of Euxitheus-- Lentils--Spare Livers--Persæus--Diodorus--Extravagance-- Luxury of the Tarentines--Extravagance of Individuals-- Cooks' Apparatus--Use of Certain Words--Tasters--The Delphians--Musical Instruments--Kinds of Flutes--Wind Instruments 210-287 BOOK V.