# 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 Archived 2021-11-01 at the Wayback Machine project (Dialogi Personae).

## Characters
### Athenaeus of Naucratis

Athenaeus (Ancient Greek: 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 (Ancient Greek: Τιμοκράτης) is Athenaeus’ interlocutor (1.1a = 1.1).

### Aemilian of Mauretania

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

### Alcides of Alexandria

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

### Amoebeus

Amoebus (Ancient Greek: Ἀμοιβεύς) is a citharode (14.622d–e = 14.17).

### Arrian

Arrian (Ancient Greek: Ἀρριανός) is a grammarian (3.113a = 3.79).

### Cynulcus

Cynulcus (Ancient Greek: 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 (Ancient Greek: Δάφνος Ἐφέσιος) is a physician (e.g. 1.1e = 1.2; 2.51a = 2.35).

### Democritus of Nicomedia

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

### Dionysocles

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

### Galen of Pergamum

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

### Larensius

Larensius of Rome (Ancient Greek: 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 (Ancient Greek: Λεωνίδης ὁ Ἠλεῖος) is a grammarian (e.g.:1.1d = 1.2; 3.96d = 3.50).

### Magnus

Magnus (Ancient Greek: 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 (Ancient Greek: 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 (Ancient Greek: Μυρτίλος Θετταλικός) is a grammarian (e.g. 3.83a = 3.25).

### Palamedes the Eleatic

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

### Philadelphus of Ptolemais

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

### Plutarch of Alexandria

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

### Pontian of Nicomedia

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

### Rufinus of Nicaea

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

### Ulpian of Tyre

Ulpian of Tyre (Ancient Greek: 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 (Ancient Greek: Οὔαρος is a grammarian (3.118d = 3.88).

### Zoilus

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