Deipnosophistae

WineDrinkingThe evils of DrunkennessPraises of WinWaterDifferent kinds of WaterSweetmeatsCouches and CoverletsNames of FruitsFruit and Herbs.LupinsNames of PlantsEggsGourdsMushroomsAsparagusOnionsThrushes-BrainsThe HeadPickleCucumbersLettuceThe CactusThe Nile

THE conversation which you reported to me did not allow me to give up a considerable portion of the day to sleep, as it was of a very varied nature.

Nicander of Colophon says that wine, οἶνος, has its name from Œneus:—

1. Œneus pour'd the juice divine
2. In hollow cups, and called it wine.

And Melanippides of Melos says—

1. 'Twas Œneus, master, gave his name to wine.

But Hecatæus of Miletus says, that the vine was discovered In Aetolia; and adds,

Orestheus, the son of Deucalion, came to Aetolia to endeavour to obtain the kingdom; and while he was there, a bitch which he had brought forth a stalk: and he ordered it to be buried in the ground, and from it

v.1.p.58

there sprang up a vine loaded with grapes. On which account he called his son Phytius. And he had a son named Œneus, who was so called from the vines: for the ancient Greeks,

says he,

called vines οἶναι. Now Œneus was the father of Aetolus.

But Plato in his Cratylus, inquiring into the etymology of the word οἶνος, says, that it is equivalent to οἰόνους, as filling the mind, νοῦς,, with οἴησις, or self-conceit. Perhaps, however, the word may be derived from ὄνησις, succour. For Homer, giving as it were the derivation of the word, speaks nearly after this fashion—

1. And then you will be succour'd (ὀνήσεαι) if you drink.

And he too constantly calls food ὀνείατα, because it supports us.