The Deipnosophists; or, Banquet of the Learned of Athenæus, Vol. 3 (of 3)Athenaeus, of Naucratis
Philosophy
The Deipnosophists; or, Banquet of the Learned of Athenæus, Vol. 3 (of 3)
Athenaeus, of Naucratis
Civilization, Greco-Roman; Dinners and dining -- Greece; Greece -- Social life and customs; Homosexuality -- Greece
42. And in the first book of his History of the Affairs of Philip,
Theopompus, speaking of Philip, says—"And on the third day he comes
to Onocarsis, which was a strong place in Thrace, having a large
grove kept in beautiful order, and full of every resource for living
pleasantly, especially during the summer. For it was one of the
places which had been especially selected by Cotys, who, of all the
kings that ever lived in Thrace, was the most eager in his pursuit of
pleasure and luxury. And going round all the country, wherever he saw
any place shaded with trees and well watered with springs, he made it
into a banqueting place. And going to them whenever he chose, he used
to celebrate sacrifices to the Gods, and there he would stay with his
lieutenants, being a very happy and enviable man, until he took it
into his head to blaspheme Minerva, and to treat her with contempt."
And the historian goes on to say, that Cotys once prepared a feast, as
if Minerva had married him; and prepared a bed-chamber for her, and
then, in a state of intoxication, he waited for the goddess. And being
already totally out of his mind, he sent one of his body-guards to see
whether the goddess had arrived at the bed-chamber. And when he came
there, and went back and reported that there was nobody there, he shot
him and killed him. And he treated a second in the same way, until a
third went, and on his return told him that the goddess had been a long
time waiting for him. And this king, being once jealous of his wife,
cut her up with his own hands, beginning at her legs.
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account