The Deipnosophists; or, Banquet of the Learned of Athenæus, Vol. 1 (of 3)Athenaeus, of Naucratis
General
The Deipnosophists; or, Banquet of the Learned of Athenæus, Vol. 1 (of 3)
Athenaeus, of Naucratis
Civilization, Greco-Roman; Dinners and dining -- Greece; Greece -- Social life and customs; Homosexuality -- Greece
And I intentionally pass over the sacred trireme built by Antigonus,
which defeated the commanders of Ptolemy off Leucolla, a city under the
dominion of Cos; and after that, Antigonus consecrated it to Apollo; but
it was not one-third, or perhaps not even one-fourth part of the size of
the Syracusan or Alexandrian vessel."
45. All this, then, we have said about the catalogue of the ships,
not beginning with the Bœotians,[333:1] but with the shows and
processions exhibited at public assemblies. And since I know that my
excellent friend Ulpian will attack us again, and ask what that thing is
which Callixenus calls ἐγγυθήκη, we tell him that there is a speech which
is attributed to Lysias the orator, written about the ἐγγυθήκη, which
begins with these words--"If, O judges, Lysimanes had said anything
reasonable or moderate." And going on a little, he proceeds to say--"I
should not have been eager to plead in an action about this chest
(ἐγγυθήκη), which is not worth thirty drachmæ." And presently he tells
us that the chest was a brazen one--"But when I wished last year to
repair it I gave it to a brazier; for it is well put together, and has
the faces of Satyrs and large heads of oxen carved upon it. There is
also another coffer of the same size; for the same workman made many
such articles of the same size, and alike in many particulars." In these
words Lysias, having said that the chest was made of brass, shows
plainly enough, as Callixenus also said, that they were things that
might be used as stands for kettles. For so Polemo Periegetes said, in
the third of those books of his which are addressed to Adæus and
Antigonus, where he explains the subject of the picture which is at
Phlius, in the portico of the polemarchs, painted by Sillax the Rhegian,
who is mentioned by Epicharmus and Simonides. And his words are--"Ἐγγυθήκη,
and a large goblet on it." And Hegesander the Delphian, in his book
entitled a Commentary on Statues and Images, says that the pedestal
dedicated by Glaucus the Chian at Delphi is like an iron ἐγγυθήκη, the
gift of Alyattes. And that is mentioned by Herodotus, who calls it
ὑποκρητηρίδιον (a stand for a goblet). And Hegesander uses the same
expression. And we ourselves have seen that lying at Delphi, a thing
really worth looking at, on account of the figures of animals which are
carved upon it, and of other insects, and living things, and plants. . .
. . . . . can be put upon it, and goblets, and other furniture.
But the thing which is called by the Alexandrians ἀγγοθήκη is a
triangular vessel, hollow in the middle, capable of receiving an earthen
wine-jar inside of it. And poor men have this made of wood, but rich men
have it of brass or of silver.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account