• Wertheimer [any]
    ·
    edit-2
    5 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 [he/him, they/them]
      ·
      5 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.

      • Wertheimer [any]
        ·
        5 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 [he/him, they/them]
          ·
          5 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.