Lynceus of Samos
Encyclopedia
Lynceus of Samos brother of the historian Duris of Samos
, was a classical Greek author of comedies, letters and humorous anecdotes. He lived in the late 4th and early 3rd centuries BC and was a pupil of Theophrastus
. His works, especially his letters and the essay Shopping for Food, show a special interest in gastronomy
. He was also the addressee of an important letter by Hippolochus
on dining in Macedon
. He would be practically unknown if it were not for numerous quotations from his works in the Deipnosophistae
of Athenaeus
.
As a comedy author Lynceus is classed among the writers of Athenian New Comedy, and the single surviving fragment from his play Kentauros ("The Centaur"), as quoted by Athenaeus (131f), appears in the standard collections of comic fragments. It is a scene set at Athens
in which a dinner menu is discussed with reference to the guests' cities of origin and probable food preferences.
The only collection of the fragments from Lynceus's prose works is in Andrew Dalby
's paper published in 2000.
Duris of Samos
Duris of Samos ; probably born around 350 BC; died after 281 BC) was a Greek historian and was at some period tyrant of Samos.- Personal and political life :Duris claimed to be a descendant of Alcibiades, and was the brother of Lynceus of Samos...
, was a classical Greek author of comedies, letters and humorous anecdotes. He lived in the late 4th and early 3rd centuries BC and was a pupil of Theophrastus
Theophrastus
Theophrastus , a Greek native of Eresos in Lesbos, was the successor to Aristotle in the Peripatetic school. He came to Athens at a young age, and initially studied in Plato's school. After Plato's death he attached himself to Aristotle. Aristotle bequeathed to Theophrastus his writings, and...
. His works, especially his letters and the essay Shopping for Food, show a special interest in gastronomy
Gastronomy
Gastronomy is the art or science of food eating. Also, it can be defined as the study of food and culture, with a particular focus on gourmet cuisine...
. He was also the addressee of an important letter by Hippolochus
Hippolochus
Hippolochus was a Macedonian writer, a student of Theophrastus, who addressed to his fellow-student Lynceus of Samos a description of a wedding feast in Macedon in the early 3rd century BC. The bridegroom was a certain Caranus, probably a relative of the Caranus who had been a companion of...
on dining in Macedon
Macedon
Macedonia or Macedon was an ancient kingdom, centered in the northeastern part of the Greek peninsula, bordered by Epirus to the west, Paeonia to the north, the region of Thrace to the east and Thessaly to the south....
. He would be practically unknown if it were not for numerous quotations from his works in the Deipnosophistae
Deipnosophistae
The Deipnosophistae may be translated as The Banquet of the Learned or Philosophers at Dinner or The Gastronomers...
of Athenaeus
Athenaeus
Athenaeus , of Naucratis in Egypt, Greek rhetorician and grammarian, flourished about the end of the 2nd and beginning of the 3rd century AD...
.
As a comedy author Lynceus is classed among the writers of Athenian New Comedy, and the single surviving fragment from his play Kentauros ("The Centaur"), as quoted by Athenaeus (131f), appears in the standard collections of comic fragments. It is a scene set at Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
in which a dinner menu is discussed with reference to the guests' cities of origin and probable food preferences.
The only collection of the fragments from Lynceus's prose works is in Andrew Dalby
Andrew Dalby
Andrew Dalby is an English linguist, translator and historian who has written articles and several books on a wide range of topics including food history, language, Classical texts, and Wikipedia.-Education and early career:...
's paper published in 2000.