Athenaeus - Deipnosophists Book XII
Book XII. 513 e – 515 a
(On the Persians.)
The first men in history to become notorious for luxurious living were the Persians, whose kings wintered in Susa and summered in Ecbatana. (Now Susa was so called, according to Aristobulus and Chares, because of the beauty of its situation; for suson is what in the Greek language is called krinon or lily.) In Persepolis they spend the autumn, and in Babylon the remaining portion of the year. So also the Parthian kings live in springtime at Rhagae, but they winter at Babylon, (and pass) the rest of the year (in Hecatompylus). The very badge of rank which the Persian kings placed on their heads certainly was not calculated to hide their indulgence in luxury. For, as Dinon says: “It was made of myrrh and what is called labyzos. The labyzos is fragrant, and more costly than myrrh. Whenever the king descended from his chariot, Dinon says, he never leaped down, although the distance to the ground was small, nor did he lean on anyone’s arms; rather, a golden stool was always set in place for him, and he descended by stepping on this; and the king’s stool-bearer attended him for this purpose. “And so three hundred women watch over him,” Heracleides of Cumae records in the first book of his Persian History. “These sleep throughout the day in order to stay awake at night, but at night they sing and play on harps continually while the lamps burn; and the king takes his pleasure of them as concubines…through the court of the Apple-bearers. These formed his bodyguard, and all of them were Persians by birth, having on the butts of their spears golden apples, and numbering a thousand, selected because of their rank from the 10,000 Persians who are called the Immortals. Through their court also the king would go on foot, Sardis carpets, on which no one else but the king ever walked, having been spread on the ground. And when he reached the last court he would mount his chariot, or sometimes his horse; but he was never seen on foot outside the palace. Even when he went hunting his concubines went out wi th him. The throne on which he sat in transacting business was of gold, and round it stood four short posts of gold studded with jewels, and on them was stretched an embroidered cloth of purple.”
Clearchus of Soli, in the fourth book of his Lives, after speaking of the luxury of the Medes and saying that because of it they had made eunuchs of many neighbouring tribes, proceeds to add that the practice of “apple-bearing” was taken over by the Persians from the Medes not only in revenge for what they had suffered, but also as a reminder of what depths of degradation the luxury of the bodyguards had reached. For their immoderate and at the same time senseless luxury of life, it is plain, can turn even men armed with lances into beggars. Going on. Clearchus writes: “To those, at any rate, who supplied him with any delicacy he gave prizes for the invention, yet when he served these dainties he did not sweeten them by bestowing special honours, but preferred to enjoy them all alone, showing his sense! This, I think is in fact the proverbial, ‘A morsel for Zeus’ and at the same time for the king.” Chares of Mitylene in the fifth book of his History of Alexander says: “The Persian kings reached such a pitch of luxury that near the royal bed, beyond the head of it, was a chamber large enough to contain five couches, wherein were stored 5000 talents of gold coin filling the whole, and it was called the royal cushion. At the foot was a second, three-couch chamber, containing 3000 talents in silver money, and called the royal footstool. And in the bed-chamber a golden vine, jewel-studded, extended over the bed.” Now Amyntas* in his Itinerary says that this vine had clusters composed of the costliest jewels. Not far from it was set up a golden mixing-bowl, the work of Theodorus of Samos. Agathocles, in the third book of his work On Cysicus, says that in Persia there is also water called “golden.” This water consists of seventy bubbling pools, and none may drink of it save only the king and his eldest son; if anyone else drinks it, the penalty is death.
* Amyntas, surveyor in Alexander’s army and writer on Alexander’s expeditions (Persian geography.)
Book XII. 529 e – 530 c
Amyntas* says in the third book of his Stages that in Nineveh is a high mound which Cyrus demolished in raising counter-walls against the city during the siege; and that this mound is said to be the work of Sardanapalus, who had been king in Nineveh; surmounting it was a stone column, on which was an inscription in Chaldaean letters, which Choerilus** translated and put into verse; it is this: “I became king, and whilst I looked upon the sun’s light I drank, I ate, I loved, for that I knew the time to be short which mortals live, and moreover hath many changes and mishaps, and others will have joy of the goods I leave behind. Wherefore I have let no day go by whilst I pursued this my way.” Cleitarchus, however, in the fourth book of his Histories of Alexander says that Sardanapalus died of old age after he was deposed from the throne of Syria. Aristobulus says: “In Anchiale, which Sardanapalus built, Alexander pitched his camp when he was marching inland against the Persians. And not far distant was the tomb of Sardanapalus, on which stood a stone figure with the fingers of the right hand brought closely together, as if snapping them. On it was inscribed, in Assyrian letters; ‘Sardanapalus, son of Anacyndaraxes, built Anchiale and Tarsus in a single day. Eat, drink, and play; for other things are not worth that’ – meaning, he seems to say, the snap of a finger.”
* Amyntas, surveyor in Alexander’s army and writer on Alexander’s expeditions (Persian geography.)
** Choerilus of Issus, poet at time of Alexander the Great.
Book XII. 531 e - f
Now, in the first book of his History of Philip, Theopompus, speaking of Philip, says: “And two days later he arrived at Onocarsis, an estate in Thrace which included a very beautifully planted grove and one well adapted for a pleasant sojourn, especially during the summer season. In fact it had been one of the favourite resorts of Cotys, who, more than any other king that had arisen in Thrace, directed his career towards the enjoyment of pleasures and luxuries, and as he went about the country, wherever he discovered places shaded with trees and watered with running streams, he turned these into banqueting places; and visiting them in turn, as chance led him, he would offer sacrifices to the gods and hold court with his lieutenants, remaining prosperous and envied until he undertook to blaspheme and offend Athena.”
Book XII. 532 d – e
And in Theopompus’s treatise entitled On the Funds plundered from Delphi he says: “To Chares of Athens, through Lysander’s agency, were given sixty talents. With this sum he feasted the Athenians in the market-place, offering sacrifices for his victory in the battle which was fought against Philip’s mercenaries.” These were commanded by Adaeus, nicknamed the Cock, to whom Heracleides, the writer of comedies, alludes in these lines: “He caught Philip’s Cock when he was crowing too early and wandering about, and cut him up; for he had not yet got a crest. Yes, Chares cut up only one, and yet feasted many Athenians on that occasion; and generous he was!” The same facts are recorded also by Duris.
Book XII. 535 e – f
Duris in the twenty-second book of his Histories says: Pausanias, the king of the Spartans, laid aside the coarse coat of his country and dressed himself in Persian raiment. So, too, Dionysius, the tyrant of Sicily, assumed a long robe and crown of gold, besides a buckled mantle usually worn by tragic actors. And Alexander, as soon as he became master of Asia, began to wear Persian dress.
Book XII. 537 d – 540 a
Speaking of Alexander the Great’s luxury, Ephippus of Olynthus in his book On the Death of Hephaestion and Alexander says that in the park there was erected for him a golden throne and couches with silver legs, on which he sat when transacting business in the company of his boon companions. And Nicobule says that during dinner every sort of contestant exerted their efforts to entertain the king, and that in the course of his last dinner Alexander in person acted from memory a scene from the Andromeda of Euripides, and pledging toasts in unmixed wine with zest compelled the others also to do likewise. Ephippus, again, says that Alexander also wore the sacred vestments at his dinner parties, at one time putting on the purple robe of Ammon, and thin slippers and horns just like the gods, at another time the costume of Artemis, which he often wore even in his chariot, wearing the Persian garb and showing above the shoulders the bow and hunting-spear of the goddess, while at still other times he was garbed in the costume of Hermes; on other occasions as a rule, and in every-day use, he wore a purple riding-cloak, a purple tunic with white stripes, and the Macedonian hat with the royal fillet; but on social occasions he wore the winged sandals and broad-brimmed hat on his head, and carried the caduceus in his hand; yet often, again, he bore the lion’s skin and club in imitation of Heracles. What wonder that the Emperor Commodus of our time also had the club of Hercules lying beside him in his chariot with the lion’s skin spread out beneath him, and desired to be called Hercules, seeing that Alexander, Aristotle’s pupil, got himself up like so may gods, to say nothing of the goddess Artemis? Alexander sprinkled the very floor with valuable perfumes and scented wine. In his honour myrrh and other kinds of incense went up in smoke; a religious stillness and silence born of fear held fast all who were in his presence. For he was hot-tempered and murderou s, reputed, in fact, to be melancholy-mad. At Ecbatana he arranged a festival in honour of Dionysus, everything being supplied at the feast with lavish expense, and Satrabates the satrap entertained all the troops. Many gathered to see the sight, says Ephippus; proclamations were made which were exceedingly boastful and more insolent than the usual Persian arrogance. For among the various proclamations made in particular, a custodian of munitions overstepped all the bounds of flattery and, in collusion with Alexander, he bade the herald proclaim that “Gorgus, the custodian of munitions, presented Alexander, son of Ammon, with three thousand gold pieces, and promised that whenever he should besiege Athens he would give him ten thousand complete suits of armour, the same number of catapults, and all other missiles besides, enough to prosecute the war.”
Chares in the tenth book of his Histories of Alexander says: “When he overcame Darius, he concluded marriages of himself and of his friends besides, constructing ninety-two bridal chambers in the same place. The structure was large enough for a hundred couches, and in it every couch was adorned with nuptial coverings, and was made of silver worth twenty minae; but his own couch had supports of gold. He also included in his invitation to the banquet all his personal friends and placed them on couches opposite himself and the other bridegrooms, while the rest of his forces, both land and naval, he entertained in the courtyard with the foreign embassies and tourists. Moreover, the structure was decorated sumptuously and magnificently with expensive draperies and fine linens, and underfoot with purple and crimson rugs interwoven with gold. To keep the pavilion firmly in place there were columns thirty feet high, gilded and silvered and studded with jewels. The entire enclosure was surrounded with rich curtains having animal patterns interwoven in gold, their rods being overlaid with gold and silver. The perimeter of the courtyard measured four stadia. The call to dinner was sounded on the trumpet, not only at the time of the nuptial banquets, but always when on other occasions he chanced to be making libation, so that the entire army knew what was going on. The nuptials lasted for five days, and very many persons, foreigners as well as Greeks, contributed their services; for example, the jugglers from India were especially noteworthy; also Scymnus of Tarentum, Philistides of Syracuse, and Heracleitus of Mitylene; after them the rhapsode Alexis of Tarentum gave a recital. There appeared also the harp-virtuosi Cratinus of Methymna, Aristonymus of Athens, Athenodorus of Teos; there were songs with harp-accompaniment by Heraleitus of Tarentum and Aristocrates of Thebes. The singers to flute-accompaniment who appeared were Dionysius of Heracleia and Hyperbolus of Cyzicus; there came on also flute-virtuosi, who first pl ayed the Pythian melody and after than accompaniments for the bands of singers and dancers; they were Timotheus, Phrynichus, Caphisias, Diphantus, and Evius of Chalcis. And from that day forth the people who had previously been called ‘Dionysus-flatterers’ were called ‘Alexander-flatterers’ because of the extravagant presents in which Alexander took such delight. Plays were acted by the tragedians Thessalus, Athenodorus, and Aristocritus, and by the comedians Lycon, Phormion, and Ariston. There was present also the harper Phasimelus. The crowns (Chares says) brought by the ambassadors and others were worth 15,000 talents.
Polycleitus of Larisa, in the eighth book of his Histories, says that Alexander slept upon a golden couch, and that flute-players, female and male alike, always accompanied him to camp and drank with him until daybreak. Clearchus, in his volumes On Lives, speaking of the Darius who was conquered by Alexander, says: “The Persian king gave prizes to those who catered to his pleasures, but brought his kingdom to defeat through all these indulgences, and did not perceive that he was defeating himself until others had seized his scepter and were proclaimed rulers.” Phylarchus in the twenty-third book of his Histories and Agatharchides of Cnidus in the tenth book of his work On Asia says that Alexander’s courtiers also indulged in extravagant luxury. One of these was Agnon, who wore gold studs in his military boots. Whenever Cleitus, who was called the White, had business to transact, he walked about on purple cloths while conversing with those who had audience with him. Likewise Perdiccas and Craterus, who were lovers of gymnastic sports, always had in their train piles of goatskins that would fill a stadium, under cover of which, after appropriating a place in the encampments, they would carry on their exercise; they were also followed by a long train of animals carrying sand to be used in the wrestling-school. Again, Leonnatus and Menelaus, who were fond of hunting, had in their luggage curtains measuring a hundred stadia, with which they surrounded the hunting-grounds and pursued the quarry. Moreover, the famous plane-trees of gold, even the golden vine under which the Persian kings often sat and held court, with its clusters of green crystals and rubies from India and other gems of every description, exceedingly costly though they were, appeared to be of less worth, says Phylarchus, than the expense lavished daily on all occasions at Alexander’s court. For his pavilion contained a hundred couches and was supported by fifty golden uprights. The canopies stretched over the upper part to cover the whole were elabo rately worked with gold in sumptuous embroideries. Inside, all round it, stood first of all five hundred Persians, Apple-bearers, with gay uniforms of purple and quince-yellow; after them bowmen to the number of a thousand, some dressed in flame-colour, others in crimson; but many, too, had mantles of dark blue. At the head of these stood five hundred Silver-Shields, Macedonians. In the centre of the pavilion was placed a golden chair, sitting on which Alexander held court with his bodyguard stationed close on all sides. Outside the tent the elephant-division was posted near in a circle with full equipment, also a thousand Macedonians in Macedonian uniform, next ten thousand Persians, and the large body, amounting to five hundred, who wore the purple; for Alexander had granted them the privilege of wearing this garment. And the number of his friends and servitors being so great, no one dared to approach Alexander; such was the majesty associated with his person. On one occasion Alexander actually wrote to the cities in Ionia, and first of all the Chians, directing them to dispatch purple dye to him. For he wanted to dress all his friends in garments dyed with sea-purple. When the letter was read to the Chians in the presence of the sophist Theocritus, he declared that now at last he understood the meaning of the verse in Homer, “Purple death seized him, and a fate overpowering.”
Book XII. 542 e – f
Carystius of Pergamum in the third book of his Notes says that Demetrius of Phalerum, when his brother Himeraeus was murdered by order of Antipater,* went himself to live with Nicanor, having been accused of celebrating the divine appearing of his brother. Becoming a friend of Cassander** he acquired great power.
* Antipater had sent his henchman Archias, who had been an actor, to apprehend the orators Hypereides and Demosthenes as well as Himeraeus, Plut. Demosth. 28, Luc. Dem. Encl. 31, in 322 B.C.
** Through Nicanor (then in the Peiraeus), who was a partisan of Cassander, the son of Antipater (who had died 319 B.C.)
Book XII 548 e – f
Carystius of Pergamum in Historical Notes quotes Cephisodorus of Thebes as saying that Polydorus, the physician of Teos, ate at the same mess with Antipater; the latter had a cheap curtain to which the rings were still attached as in the case of the bales used for carrying rugs; on this he would recline at dinner, with a few bronze jars and cups for service; for he lived on a small scale and was entirely alien to a life of luxury.*
* Antipater’s economy led him to spread on his dinner-couch an ordinary curtain or rug-container, which had rings for suspending the curtain.