Characters of the Deipnosophistae

This is a list of the 24 characters (deipnosophists or sophists at dinner) who take part in the banquet described by Athenaeus of Naucratis in the Deipnosophistae. Some of them can be probably identified with great names of the past, but it is still debated if most of the Deipnosophists were fictions. A digital version of the index of the characters of the Deipnosophists published by Georg Kaibel is available through the Digital Athenaeus project (Dialogi Personae).

Athenaeus of Naucratis
Athenaeus (Ἀθήναιος) is the narrator of the Deipnosophistae and also a guest at the dinner party described in the work. He is presented as the father of the book and as offering his account to Timocrates, imitating Plato in his dramatization of the dialogue. In the text we are informed that Athenaeus wrote also a work On the Kings of Syria (5.211a = 5.47 = FGrHist 166 F 1 = BNJ 166 F 1) and a private treatise on small sea-fishes (thraittai) (7.329c = 7.138).

Timocrates
Timocrates (Τιμοκράτης) is Athenaeus’ interlocutor (1.1a = 1.1).

Aemilian of Mauretania
Aemilianus of Mauretania (Αἰμιλιανὸς Μαυρούσιος) is a grammarian (e.g., 3.126b = 3.100).

Alcides of Alexandria
Alceides of Alexandria (Ἀλκείδης Ἀλεξανδρεύς) is a musician (1.1f = 1.2; 4.174b = 4.75).

Amoebeus
Amoebus (Ἀμοιβεύς) is a citharode (14.622d–e = 14.17).

Arrian
Arrian (Ἀρριανός) is a grammarian (3.113a = 3.79).

Cynulcus
Cynulcus (Κύνουλκος is a Cynic philosopher whose given name is Theodorus (e.g. 1.1d = 1.2; 3.97c = 3.51).

Daphnus of Ephesus
Daphnus of Ephesus (Δάφνος Ἐφέσιος) is a physician (e.g. 1.1e = 1.2; 2.51a = 2.35).

Democritus of Nicomedia
Democritus of Nicomedia (Δημόκριτος Νίκομηδεύς) is a philosopher (1.1e = 1.2; 3.83c = 3.25).

Dionysocles
Dionysocles (Διονυσοκλῆς is a physician (3.96d = 3.50, 116d = 3.84).

Galen of Pergamum
Galen of Pergamum (Γαληνός τε ὁ Περγαμηνός is the famous physician (e.g. 1.1e = 1.2, 26c = 1.48).

Larensius
Larensius of Rome (Λαρήνσιος Ῥωμαῖος) is identified with Publius Livius Larensis, a Roman official and also host of the party of the Deipnosophistae (e.g. 1.1a = 1.1; 2.50f = 2.35).

Leonides of Elis
Leonides of Elis (Λεωνίδης ὁ Ἠλεῖος) is a grammarian (e.g.:1.1d = 1.2; 3.96d = 3.50).

Magnus
Magnus (Μάγνος) is defined as philotrápezos (fond of the table), but is not associated with any professions or arts (e.g. 3.74c = 3.6).

Masurius
Masurius (Μανσούριος) is a jurist, poet and musician, and can be probably identified with Masurius Sabinus (e.g. 1.1c = 1.2; 14.623e = 14.18).

Myrtilus of Thessaly
Myrtilus of Thessaly (Μυρτίλος Θετταλικός) is a grammarian (e.g. 3.83a = 3.25).

Palamedes the Eleatic
Palamedes the Eleatic (ὁ Ἐλεατικὸς Παλαμήδης) is a lexicographer (9.379a = 9.55).

Philadelphus of Ptolemais
Philadelphus of Ptolemais (Φιλάδελφός τε ὁ Πτολεμαεύς) is a philosopher (1.1d = 1.2).

Plutarch of Alexandria
Plutarch of Alexandria (Πλούταρχος) is a grammarian (e.g. 1.1c = 1.2; 3.83b = 3.25).

Pontian of Nicomedia
Pontianus of Nicomedia (Ποντιανὸς Νικομηδεύς) is a philosopher (1.1d = 1.2; 3.109b = 3.74).

Rufinus of Nicaea
Rufinus of Nicaea (Ῥουφῖνός τε ὁ Νικαεύς) is a physician (1.1f = 1.2).

Ulpian of Tyre
Ulpian of Tyre (Οὐλπιανὸς ὁ Τύριος) is a grammarian and also symposiarch and possibly father of the famous jurist Ulpian (e.g. 1.1d = 1.2; 2.49a = 2.32).

Varus
Varus (Οὔαρος is a grammarian (3.118d = 3.88).

Zoilus
Zoilus (Ζωίλος) is a grammarian (e.g. 1.1d = 1.2; 7.277c = 7.5).