ATHENÆUS, a Greek grammarian of great erudition, was a native of Naucratis in Egypt, and lived about A.D. 230, first at Alexandria, and afterwards at Rome. The only one of his works extant is that entitled Deipnosophista (Δειπνοσοφισται), or Banquet of the Learned, in 15 books, of which the first two, and parts of the 3d, 11th, and 15th, exist only in epitome. This work is an almost inexhaustible store of
anecdotes, facts, quotations, criticisms, and discussions, on subjects of the most diversified kind; and it is valuable for the light it throws on many curious circumstances regarding the ancients. Editions: by Aldus, Venice, 1514; Casaubon, Geneva, 1597; Schweighäuser, Strasbourg, 14 vols. 8vo, 1801-7; W. Dindorf, 3 vols. 8vo, Lips. 1827, which is the best. There is also a French translation in 5 vols. 4to, by M. Lefèvre de Villbrune.