But Aristophanes the comic writer, whom Heliodorus the Athenian says, in his treatise concerning the Acropolis, (and it occupies fifteen books,) was a Naucratite by birth, in his play called Plutus, after the god who gave his name to the play and appeared on the stage, says that dishes of silver [p. 363] were in existence, just as all other things might be had made of the same metal. And his words are—
But every vinegar cruet, dish and ewerAnd Plato says, in his Ambassadors—
Is made of brass; while all the dirty dishes
In which they serve up fish are made of silver.
The oven too is made of ivory.
Epicrates and his good friend Phormisius,And Sophron, in his Female Actresses, says—
Received many and magnificent gifts
From the great king; a golden cruet-stand,
And silver plates and dishes.
The whole house shone
With store of gold, and of much silver plate.
