The Deipnosophists, or Banquet of the Learned of Athenæus Quotes

“But Theopompus says, that black wine was first made among the Chians; and, that the Chians were the first people who imparted the knowledge of planting and tending vines to the rest of mankind, having learnt it from Oenopion the son of Bacchus, who was the original colonizer of their island. But white wine is weak and thin; but yellow wine is very digestible, being of a more drying nature. 48.”
― ATHENÆUS, THE DEIPNOSOPHISTS OR BANQUET OF THE LEARNED OF ATHENÆUS.

“And some men say, that the flight of Bacchus to the sea is emblematic of the making of wine, as it was practised long ago; because wine is very sweet when sea-water is poured into it. And Homer praising dark-coloured wine, often calls it =aithops=. For the dark-coloured wine is the strongest, and it remains in the system of the drinkers of it longer than any other.”
― ATHENÆUS, THE DEIPNOSOPHISTS OR BANQUET OF THE LEARNED OF ATHENÆUS.

“Though in reality old wine is not only more pleasant, but also better for health; for it aids digestion more; and being thinner it is itself more digestible; it also invigorates the body; and makes the blood red and fluid, and produces untroubled sleep.”
― ATHENÆUS, THE DEIPNOSOPHISTS OR BANQUET OF THE LEARNED OF ATHENÆUS.

“Rome may fairly be called the nation of the world. And he will not be far out who pronounces the city of the Romans an epitome of the whole earth; for in it you may see every other city arranged collectively, and many also separately; for instance, there you may see the golden city of the Alexandrians, the beautiful metropolis of Antioch, the surpassing beauty of Nicomedia; and besides all these that most glorious of all the cities which Jupiter has ever displayed, I mean Athens.”
― ATHENÆUS, THE DEIPNOSOPHISTS OR BANQUET OF THE LEARNED OF ATHENÆUS.

“And all the manufactories of sweetmeats are in great vigour, and such plans are devised for intercourse between people, that some have proposed even to stuff the sofas and chairs with sponge, as on the idea that that will make the occupiers more amorous.”
― ATHENÆUS, THE DEIPNOSOPHISTS OR BANQUET OF THE LEARNED OF ATHENÆUS.

“the Trojans had “the voice of flutes and pipes,” and they made libations, when they got up from the feast, making them to Mercury, and not, as they did afterwards, to Jupiter the Finisher. For Mercury appears to be the patron of sleep: they drop libations to him also on their tongues when they depart from a banquet, and the tongues are especially allotted to him, as being the instruments of eloquence. Homer”
― ATHENÆUS, THE DEIPNOSOPHISTS OR BANQUET OF THE LEARNED OF ATHENÆUS.

“So that it is not easy to put all sorts of things on the table at one time; but it is easy to talk of all kinds of subjects at any time.”
― ATHENÆUS, THE DEIPNOSOPHISTS OR BANQUET OF THE LEARNED OF ATHENÆUS.

“Antiphanes, that witty man, catalogues all the things which are peculiar to each city thus:-- Cooks come from Elis, pots from Argos, Corinth blankets sends in barges, Phlius wine, and Sicyon fish, While cheese is a Sicilian dish. Ægium sends flute-playing maids; Perfumers ply their dainty trades At Athens, under Pallas’ eye; Boeotia sends us eels to fry. And”
― ATHENÆUS, THE DEIPNOSOPHISTS OR BANQUET OF THE LEARNED OF ATHENÆUS.

“But Homer praises that wine most which will admit of a copious admixture of water; as the Maronean. And old wine will allow of more water being added to it, because its very age has added heat to it.”
― ATHENÆUS, THE DEIPNOSOPHISTS OR BANQUET OF THE LEARNED OF ATHENÆUS.

“You court the heav’nly muse with ceaseless zeal, And seek to open all the varied stores Of high philosophy. And”
― ATHENÆUS, THE DEIPNOSOPHISTS OR BANQUET OF THE LEARNED OF ATHENÆUS.