Athenaeus of Naucratis (Ἀθήναιος ὁ Ναυκρατίτης) was a Greek rhetorician and grammarian active in the late 2nd and early 3rd centuries CE [1]. A native of Naucratis in Egypt, he spent considerable time in Rome, moving within the learned, cosmopolitan circles characteristic of the Second Sophistic [1][2]. His life is known primarily from his own work, the Deipnosophistae (The Learned Banqueters), where he appears as a narrator and describes associating with patrons like Larensis [1][2].

His sole surviving work is the Deipnosophistae, a lengthy text in 15 books preserved in an epitome [1][2][3]. It is structured as an account of a multi-day banquet where guests discuss a wide range of subjects.

The Deipnosophistae is an invaluable scholarly resource. It preserves fragments from over 1,250 now-lost Greek authors, including poetry, comedy, and historical works, offering a critical window into ancient literary culture and social customs [1][2][3].

Sources 1. Encyclopædia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Athenaeus 2. Perseus Digital Library: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2013.01.0001 3. World History Encyclopedia: https://www.worldhistory.org/Athenaeus/