Book 1
18
This was the way in which the sophist of Thessalia argued, from whence came the term, a Sicilian proverb, and Athenæus is, perhaps, playing on the proverb.
19
As to the meals the heroes took in Homer, there was first of all breakfast, which he calls ἄριστον, which he mentions once in the Odyssey, Ulysses and the swineherd, noble man, First lit the fire, and breakfast then began.Odyss. xv. 499. And once in the Iliad, Then quickly they prepared to break their fast.Iliad, xxiv. 124. But this was the morning meal, which we call ἀκρατισμὸς, because we soak crusts of bread in pure wine (ἄκρατος), and eat them, as Antiphanes says— While the cook the ἄριστον prepares. And afterwards he says— Then when you have done your business, Come and share my ἀκρατισμός. And Cantharus says— A. Shall we, then, take our ἀκρατισμὸς there? B. No; at the Isthmus all the slaves prepare The sweet ἄριστον,— using the two words as synonymous. Aristomenes says— I'll stop awhile to breakfast, then I'll come, When I a slice or two of bread have eaten, But Philemon says that the ancients took the following meals—ἀκράτισμα, ἄριστον, ἑσπέρισμα, or the afternoon meal, and δεῖπνον,, supper; calling the ἀκρατισμὸς breakfast, and ἄριστον Vide Liddell and Scott, in voc., who say, In Homer it is taken at sunrise; and so Aesch. Ag. 331, later breakfast was called ἀκράτισμα and then ἄριστον was the midday meal, our luncheon, the Roman prandium, as may be seen from Theoc. iv. 90-7, 8; and 25: translate ἑσπέρισμα supper, and ἐπιδορπὶς a second course of sweetmeats. luncheon, and δεῖπνον the meal which came after luncheon. And the same order of names occur in Aeschylus, where Palamedes is introduced, saying— The different officers I then appointed, And bade them recollect the soldiers' meals, In number three, first breakfast, and then dinner, Supper the third. And of the fourth meal Homer speaks thus—
