The Deipnosophists; or, Banquet of the Learned of Athenæus, Vol. 2 (of 3)Athenaeus, of Naucratis
Philosophy
The Deipnosophists; or, Banquet of the Learned of Athenæus, Vol. 2 (of 3)
Athenaeus, of Naucratis
Civilization, Greco-Roman; Dinners and dining -- Greece; Greece -- Social life and customs; Homosexuality -- Greece
There are also other lines in Homer expressing the names of vessels
from the first and last syllable, such as—
ὈΛψυμένων Δαναῶν ὀλοφύρεται ἐν φρεσὶ θυΜΟΣ,
which makes Ὄλμος, a mortar;
ΜΥθεῖται κατὰ μοῖραν ἅπερ κ᾽ οἴοιτο καὶ ἄλΛΟΣ,
which makes Μύλος, a millstone;
ΛΥγρός ἐὼν μή πού τι κακὸν καὶ μεῖζον ἐπαύΡῌ,
which makes λύρη, a lyre.
And other lines, the first and last syllables of which give some
eatable, as—
ἈΡγυρόπεζα Θέτις θυγατὴρ ἁλίοιο γέρονΤΟΣ,
which makes ἄρτος, bread;
ΜΗτι σὺ ταῦτα ἕκαστα διείρεο, μὴ δὲ μετάλΛΑ,
which makes μῆλα, apples.
88. And since we have made a pretty long digression about griphi, we
must now say what punishment those people underwent who failed to solve
the griphus which was proposed to them. They drank brine mingled with
their drink, and were bound to drink the whole cup up at one draught;
as Antiphanes shows in his Ganymede, where he says—
[Sidenote: ΓΡΙΦΟΙ.]
_A._ Alas me! what perplexing things you say,
O master, and what numerous things you ask me.
_B._ But now I will speak plainly: if you know
One circumstance about the rape of the child,
You must reveal it quick, before you're hang'd.
_A._ Are you then asking me a riddle, master,
Bidding me tell you all about the rape
Of the child? What's the meaning of your words?
_B._ Here, some one, bring me out a halter quickly.
_A._ What for?
_B._ Perhaps you'll say you do not know.
_A._ Will you then punish me with that? Oh don't!
You'd better make me drink a cup of brine.
_B._ Know you then how you ought to drink that up?
_A._ Indeed I do.
_B._ How?
_A._ So as to make you pledge me.
_B._ No, but first put your hands behind your back,
Then drink it at a draught, not drawing breath.
So when the Deipnosophists had said all this about the griphi, since it
has taken us till evening to recollect all they said, we will put off
the discussion about cups till to-morrow. For as Metagenes says in his
Philothytes—
I'll change my speech, by way of episode,
So as to treat the theatre with many
New dishes rich with various seasonings;
taking the discussion about cups next.
FOOTNOTES
[Footnote 36: The passage from Pindar is hopelessly corrupt.]
[Footnote 37: A mina was something less than a pound.]
[Footnote 38: A χοεὺς was something under three quarts.]
[Footnote 39: It is not quite certain what was the size of the chœnix;
some make it about a pint and a half, while others make it nearly four
pints. The λίτρα is only the Greek form of the Roman _libra_, and was a
little more than three-quarters of a pound.]
[Footnote 40: Sito is from σῖτος, food.]
[Footnote 41: It is uncertain what this name means, or how it should be
spelt. Some write it Simalis.]
[Footnote 42: This name appears to mean, "having unexpected gain,"
ἕρμαιον ἔχων.]
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