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 project (Dialogi Personae).
Characters
Athenaeus of Naucratis
Athenaeus () 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 ([http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+5.47&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 5.211a = 5.47] FGrHist 166 F 1 BNJ 166 F 1) and a private treatise on small sea-fishes (thraittai) ([http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+7.138&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 7.329c = 7.138]).
Timocrates
Timocrates () is Athenaeus’ interlocutor ([http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3atext%3a2013.01.0001 1.1a = 1.1]).
Aemilian of Mauretania
Aemilianus of Mauretania () is a grammarian (e.g., [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001%3Abook%3D3%3Achapter%3D100 3.126b = 3.100]).
Alcides of Alexandria
Alceides of Alexandria () is a musician ([http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+1.2&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 1.1f = 1.2]; [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+4.75&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 4.174b = 4.75]).
Amoebeus
Amoebus () is a citharode ([http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+14.17&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 14.622d-e = 14.17]).
Arrian
Arrian () is a grammarian ([http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+3.79&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 3.113a = 3.79]).
Cynulcus
Cynulcus ( is a Cynic philosopher whose given name is Theodorus (e.g. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+1.2&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 1.1d = 1.2]; [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+3.51&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 3.97c = 3.51]).
Daphnus of Ephesus
Daphnus of Ephesus () is a physician (e.g. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+1.2&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 1.1e = 1.2]; [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+2.35&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 2.51a = 2.35]).
Democritus of Nicomedia
Democritus of Nicomedia () is a philosopher ([http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+1.2&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 1.1e = 1.2]; [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+3.25&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 3.83c = 3.25]).
Dionysocles
Dionysocles ( is a physician ([http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+3.50&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 3.96d = 3.50], [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+3.84&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 116d = 3.84]).
Galen of Pergamum
Galen of Pergamum ( is the famous physician (e.g. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+1.2&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 1.1e = 1.2], [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+1.48&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 26c = 1.48]).
Larensius
Larensius of Rome () is identified with Publius Livius Larensis, a Roman official and also host of the party of the Deipnosophistae (e.g. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+1.1&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 1.1a = 1.1]; [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+2.35&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 2.50f = 2.35]).
Leonides of Elis
Leonides of Elis () is a grammarian (e.g.:[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+1.2&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 1.1d = 1.2]; [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+3.50&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 3.96d = 3.50]).
Magnus
Magnus () is defined as philotrápezos (fond of the table), but is not associated with any professions or arts (e.g. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+3.6&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 3.74c = 3.6]).
Masurius
Masurius () is a jurist, poet and musician, and can be probably identified with Masurius Sabinus (e.g. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+1.2&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 1.1c = 1.2]; [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+14.18&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 14.623e = 14.18]).
Myrtilus of Thessaly
Myrtilus of Thessaly () is a grammarian (e.g. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+3.25&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 3.83a = 3.25]).
Palamedes the Eleatic
Palamedes the Eleatic () is a lexicographer ([http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+9.55&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 9.379a = 9.55]).
Philadelphus of Ptolemais
Philadelphus of Ptolemais () is a philosopher ([http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+1.2&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 1.1d = 1.2]).
Plutarch of Alexandria
Plutarch of Alexandria () is a grammarian (e.g. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+1.2&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 1.1c = 1.2]; [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+3.25&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 3.83b = 3.25]).
Pontian of Nicomedia
Pontianus of Nicomedia () is a philosopher ([http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+1.2&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 1.1d = 1.2]; [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+3.74&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 3.109b = 3.74]).
Rufinus of Nicaea
Rufinus of Nicaea () is a physician ([http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+1.2&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 1.1f = 1.2]).
Ulpian of Tyre
Ulpian of Tyre () is a grammarian and also symposiarch and possibly father of the famous jurist Ulpian (e.g. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+1.2&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 1.1d = 1.2]; [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+2.32&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 2.49a = 2.32]).
Varus
Varus ( is a grammarian ([http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+3.88&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 3.118d = 3.88]).
Zoilus
Zoilus () is a grammarian (e.g. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+1.2&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 1.1d = 1.2]; [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Ath.+7.5&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0001 7.277c = 7.5]).

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