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Me in ancient Greece pouring over sailing timetables written on clay tablets (hexbear.net)

submitted 3 months ago by wtypstanaccount04@hexbear.net to c/chapotraphouse@hexbear.net

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[-] thethirdgracchi@hexbear.net 21 points 3 months ago

Anybody have the actual source for this book? Would love to read it, little anecdotes about Ancient Greeks sound like a wonderful vibe

[-] Wertheimer@hexbear.net 25 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Athenaeus, Deipnosophists, Book XII, Chapter 80: https://www.loebclassics.com/view/atheneus_grammarian-learned_banqueters/2007/pb_LCL327.219.xml?readMode=recto (A non-paywalled source with an older translation: (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0003%3Abook%3D12%3Achapter%3D80) )

For more anecdote collections - Plutarch's Moralia, Volume III ; for the Romans, Valerius Maximus's Memorable Doings and Sayings

Aulus Gellius's Attic Nights is good, too, but it's more on the philological anecdote side

You may also enjoy Theophrastus's Characters

(Final edit - spelling)

[-] thethirdgracchi@hexbear.net 8 points 3 months ago

Oh wow, this is amazing. How have I never even heard of The Learned Banqueters?? This is an insane work, exactly what I'm looking for! I really ought to learn Ancient Greek one of these days.

[-] ChaosMaterialist@hexbear.net 9 points 3 months ago

I hear there are some spicy scrolls that need translating.

[-] Wertheimer@hexbear.net 9 points 3 months ago

Almost nobody reads it straight through, but as a source it's amazing. I'm pretending to work on a novel about [redacted] and whenever I need background details Athenaeus is there to help. Here's an intro that makes the case for him: https://chs.harvard.edu/book/jacob-christian-the-web-of-athenaeus/

[-] thethirdgracchi@hexbear.net 6 points 3 months ago

Oh shit, well colour me intrigued on your novel!! I'm starting a press (https://ephesus.press) with some folks over at /r/TrueLit to publish stuff, I you ever find yourself finishing it and want it to see the light of day consider sending it over. I will absolutely read this info as well, this work sounds totally fascinating.