The
institution of common tables also appears to be of ancient date, being
in Crete as old as the reign of Minos, and in Italy far older. The
Italian historians say that there was a certain Italus, king of
Oenotria, from whom the Oenotrians were called Italians, and who
gave the name of Italy to the promontory of Europe lying within the
Scylletic and Lametic Gulfs, which are distant from one another only
half a day's journey. They say that this Italus converted the
Oenotrians from shepherds into husbandmen, and besides other laws
which he gave them, was the founder of their common meals; even in our
day some who are derived from him retain this institution and
certain other laws of his. On the side of Italy towards Tyrrhenia
dwelt the Opici, who are now, as of old, called Ausones; and on the
side towards Iapygia and the Ionian Gulf, in the district called
Siritis, the Chones, who are likewise of Oenotrian race. From this
part of the world originally came the institution of common tables;
the separation into castes from Egypt, for the reign of Sesostris is
of far greater antiquity than that of Minos. It is true indeed that
these and many other things have been invented several times over in
the course of ages, or rather times without number; for necessity
may be supposed to have taught men the inventions which were
absolutely required, and when these were provided, it was natural that
other things which would adorn and enrich life should grow up by
degrees.
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