Athenaei Dipnosophistarum sive Coenae sapientum Libri XV

Lyon: , 1556. Ancient Greek Dining Customs, including remarks on Ancient Taste in Music,
Dance, Games, Court Behavior and other details of the Lifestyles of the Wealthy Classes

ATHENAEUS. Athenaei Dipnosophistarum sive Coenae sapientum Libri XV. Natale de Comitibus Veneto nunc primùm è Graeca in Latinam linguam vertente… Lugduni: Apud Sebastianum Barptolomaei Honorati (Colophon: Jacobus Faure Excudebat), 1556.

First Lyon Latin translation, published the same year as the Basel edition.

Small octavo (6 5/8 x 4 inches; 168 x 101 mm.). [xxiv], 1-898, [27, index], [1, imprint] pp.

Old vellum with manuscript (truncated) title on spine. List of Ancient writers on front paste-down, also "A.M. Martin" in brown ink, front blank flyleaf not present. Front inner hinge broken but vellum joint sound.

With the armorial bookplate of celebrated collector Robert Walsingham Martin on rear paste-down. "The collection of the Wall Street banker Robert Walsingham Martin, “probably the most outstanding library to be dispersed at auction in this country since the sale of the books of the late Lucius Wilmerding, in 1950-1951” (Parke Bernet Galleries, NY 12th November 1963).

"Athanaeus treats of a number of subjects relative to gastronomy. The names of the most famous epicures are cited, anecdotes of noted persons, usages in the ordinary repasts and in feasts, as well as the virtues and qualities of legumes, fish and meats." (Bitting p.19).

The surviving fifteen books of Athenaeus's Dinner Table Philosophers provide unique information regarding ancient Greek dining customs, including remarks on ancient taste in music, dance, games, court behavior and other details of the lifestyles of the wealthy classes. He also refers to almost 800 different authors, and 2,500 works. Because so many ancient texts do not survive, the Deipnosophistae contains the only reference to many works and authors otherwise lost. Book XIII contains important information regarding sexuality in classical and Hellenistic Greece.

Athenaeus of Naucratis was a Greek rhetorician and grammarian, flourishing about the end of the 2nd and beginning of the 3rd century AD. and was the esteemed author of "Dipnosophistarum sive Coenae sapientum Libri XV" This notable work, translated from Greek into Latin for the first time, stands as a testament to his erudition and scholarly prowess. Born into the cultural tapestry of Venice, Athenaeus dedicated his intellectual endeavors to preserving and disseminating the wisdom of the ancients. His magnum opus, published in the year 1556 in Lyon, France, under the imprint of Sebastianus Barptolomaei Honorati, carries the essence of ancient Greek intellectual thought. Titled "Dipnosophistarum sive Coenae sapientum Libri XV," the work spans fifteen volumes, showcasing Athenaeus's deep engagement with the symposium, or philosophical banquet, a concept deeply rooted in classical Greek tradition.

Athenaeus's meticulous translation from Greek to Latin facilitated the accessibility of this timeless work to a wider audience, contributing to the preservation of classical knowledge during the Renaissance period. His linguistic acumen and dedication to the intellectual heritage of the Hellenistic world played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between cultures and epochs. The colophon of this significant edition reveals the craftsmanship behind the publication, acknowledging the printer Jacobus Faure for his role in bringing Athenaeus's work to life. The imprint reflects the collaborative spirit of the Renaissance, where scholars, translators, and printers worked in tandem to revive and disseminate the treasures of antiquity.

Athenaeus's legacy endures through his translation, a beacon that guides scholars and enthusiasts alike through the rich tapestry of ancient Greek wisdom. His work not only serves as a testament to his own intellectual prowess but also as a bridge connecting the classical world to the Renaissance and beyond, leaving an indelible mark on the trajectory of human knowledge and cultural exchange.

Vicaire, p. 50. (Inventory #: 05767)