Athenaeus, The Deipnosophists
C. D. Yonge, B.A., Ed.

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But Tryphon says that formerly before the guests entered the supper-room, each person's share was placed on the table, and that afterwards a great many dishes of various kinds were served up in addition; and that on this account these latter dishes were called ἐπιφορήματα. But Philyllius, in his Well-digger, speaking of the second course, says—

Almonds, and nuts, and ἐπιφορήματα.

And Archippus, in his Hercules, and Herodotus, in the first book of his History, have both used the verb ἐπιδορπίζομαι for eating after supper. And Archippus also, in his Hercules Marrying, uses the word ἐπιφορήματα; where he says—

The board was loaded with rich honey-cakes
And other ἐπιφορήματα.

And Herodotus, in the first book of his History, says—“They do not eat a great deal of meat, but a great many ἐπιφορήματα.” But as for the proverbial saying, “The ἐπιφόρημα of Abydos,” that is a kind of tax and harbour-due; as is explained by Aristides in the third book of his treatise on Proverbs. But Dionysius, the son of Tryphon, says—“Formerly, before the guests came into the banqueting-room, the portion for each individual was placed on the table, and afterwards a great many other things were served up in addition (ἐπιφέρεσθαι); from which custom they were called ἐπιφορήματα.” And Philyllius, in his Well-digger, speaks of what is brought in after the main part of the banquet is over, saying—

Almonds, and nuts, and ἐπιφορήματα.

But Plato the comic poet, in the Menelaus, calls them ἐπιτραπεζώματα, as being for eatables placed on the table (ἐπὶ ταῖς τραπέζαις), saying—

A. Come, tell me now,
Why are so few of the ἐπιτραπεζώματα
Remaining?
B. That man hated by the gods
Ate them all up.

And Aristotle, in his treatise on Drunkenness, says that sweetmeats (τραγήματα) used to be called by the ancients τρωγάλια; for that they come in as a sort of second course. But it is Pindar who said—

And τρώγαλον is nice when supper's over,
And when the guests have eaten plentifully.

[p. 1025] And he was quite right. For Euripides says, when one looks on what is served up before one, one may really say—

You see how happily life passes when
A man has always a well-appointed table.