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
47. But Satyrus, speaking of the beautiful Alcibiades, says,—"It
is said that when he was in Ionia, he was more luxurious than the
Ionians themselves. And when he was in Thebes he trained himself, and
practised gymnastic exercises, being more of a Bœotian than the Thebans
themselves. And in Thessaly he loved horses and drove chariots; being
fonder of horses than the Aleuadæ: and at Sparta he practised courage
and fortitude, and surpassed the Lacedæmonians themselves. And again,
in Thrace he out-drank even the Thracians themselves. And once wishing
to tempt his wife, he sent her a thousand Darics in another man's
name: and being exceedingly beautiful in his person, he cherished his
hair the greater part of his life, and used to wear an extraordinary
kind of shoe, which is called Alcibias from him. And whenever he was a
choregus, he made a procession clad in a purple robe; and going into
the theatre he was admired not only by the men, but also by the women:
on which account Antisthenes, the pupil of Socrates, who often had seen
Alcibiades, speaks of him as a powerful and manly man, and impatient
of restraint, and audacious, and exceedingly beautiful through all his
life.
"And whenever he went on a journey he used four of the allied cities
as his maid-servants. For the Ephesians used to put up a Persian tent
for him; and the Chians used to find him food for his horses; and
the people of Cyzicus supplied him with victims for his sacrifices
and banquets; and the Lesbians gave him wine, and everything else
which he wanted for his daily food. And when he came to Athens from
Olympia, he offered up two pictures, the work of Aglaophon: one of
which represented the priestesses of Olympia and Delphi crowning him;
and in the other Nemea was sitting, and Alcibiades on her knees,
appearing more beautiful than any of the women. And even when on
military expeditions he wished to appear beautiful; accordingly he had
a shield made of gold and ivory, on which was carved Love brandishing a
thunderbolt as the ensign. And once having gone to supper at the house
of Anytus, by whom he was greatly beloved, and who was a rich man, when
one of the company who was supping there with him was Thrasyllus, (and
he was a poor man,) he pledged Thrasyllus in half the cups which were
set out on the side-board, and then ordered the servants to carry them
to Thrasyllus's house; and then he very civilly wished Anytus good
night, and so departed. But Anytus, in a very affectionate and liberal
spirit, when some one said what an inconsiderate thing Alcibiades had
done; 'No, by Jove,' said he, 'but what a kind and considerate thing;
for when he had the power to have taken away everything, he has left me
half.'"
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