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1. Of Gela or Syracuse (Athen. 1.4d), but more usually described as a native of Gela, appears to have lived about the time of the younger Dionysius.


Art of Cookery

Archestratus travelled through various countries in order to become accurately acquainted with every thing which could be used for tht table; and gave the results of his rescarches in an Epic poem entitled the Art of Cookery, which was celebrated in antiquity, and is constantly referred to by Athenaeus. In no part of the Hellenic world was the art of good living carried to such an extent as in Sicily (the Siculae dapes, Hor. Carrm. 3.1. 18, became. proverbial); and Terpsion, who is described as a teacher of Archestratus, had already written a work on the Art of Cookery. (Athen. 8.337b.)

The work of Archestratus is cited by the ancients under five different titles,--Γαστρολογία, Γαστρονομία, Ὀψοποιΐα, Δειπνολογία, and Ἡδυπάθεια.

Ennius wrote an imitation or translation of this poem under the title of Carmina Hedypathelica or Hedypathica. (Apul. Apol. p. 484, Oudend.) Archestratus delivered his precepts in the style and with the gravity of the old gnomic poets, whence he is called in joke the Hesiod or Theognis of gluttons, and his work is referred to as the " Golden Verses," like those of Pythagoras. (Athen. vii. pp. 310,a. 320,f.) His description of the various natural objects used for the table was so accurate, that Aristotle made use of his work in giving an account of the natural history of fishes.


The extant fragments have been collected and explained by Schneider, in his edition of Aristotle's Natural History (vol. i. pp. lv.--lxxv.), and also by Domenico Scina, under the title of " I frammenti della Gastronomia di Archestrato raccolti e volgarizzati," Palermo, 1823, 8vo.

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