Talk:Athenaeus

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Comments[edit]

The two books mentioned in the text actually are the same, the titles being in Latin and in Greek. The book contains a fictional conversation between most learned man concerning numerous issues. The book is valuable as a source of innumerable quotes from sources otherwise unknown. Andres

I've edited the text, adding the point that Andres rightly makes. I've also added some references, here and at Deipnosophistae. Andrew Dalby http://perso.wanadoo.fr/dalby/ 13:39, 15 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I agree with the addition on pederasty but it is really needed not in Athenaeus's biography but in the article Deipnosophists, which needs to outline the contents of the book, so I have moved it there. Hope everyone approves. Andrew Dalby http://perso.wanadoo.fr/dalby/ 22:28, 18 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Additions by User:Bleh999[edit]

The additions seem to be from the Ency. Brit. 1911 (or some equally old and POV source) and to be mostly about the Deipnosophistae: therefore, I suggest, most of the new text belongs in that article, if anywhere. Indeed, some of it is already there. However, the details about Athenaeus's other works are definitely useful. Andrew Dalby 18:09, 20 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Epaenetus[edit]

Was Epaenetus Athenaeus's real name? The linked page gives a source claiming so, but it's a Greek language source and I don't speak Greek. Ego White Tray (talk) 06:02, 22 May 2014 (UTC)[reply]

I can read Greek, but I can't find the link you refer to. Could you copy the link here?

At first sight, there could be no way either to prove or disprove the hypothesis. It seems highly likely that it is false, because Athenaeus cites about 700 authors, and in the great majority of cases, even the most obscure of cases, it can be shown independently that the works which he cites existed. So why, in just one case, should he insert citations to himself, disguised as a minor and uninteresting author called Epaenetus? Incidentally, if he did for some devious reason work that trick, how would one say which was his "real name"? Andrew Dalby 09:06, 24 May 2014 (UTC)[reply]