The Ἰταλικός banquet. A Philo of Alexandria's criticism on pagans banquets

Abstract

 Philo mentions banquets at different fragments of his work, but it is in the treatise De vita contemplativa where he dedicates greater attention to them. It is surprising that in a writing focused on the ascetic life he wants to comment in an insulting tone on pagan banquets and also does so in considerable detail, sometimes even descending into somewhat ribald descriptions, typical of profane symposium literature or satirical comedy. His intention is to make a σύγκρισις that compares and contrasts these banquets with the θεραπευταὶ, therapeutae agape, an example of a modest diner attitude. By extension, and in the context in which he writes the work, the philosopher could also be alluding to the contrast between the behavior of the pagans and that of the Jews and in the events of the year 38 in Alexandria.