Margites · Atlas

in the texts

Against CtesiphonClassical · Greek

A derisive name Demosthenes allegedly applied to Alexander.

And he nicknamed Alexander Margites;

De legendis gentilium librisLate Antiquity · Greek

Fictional comic character in a poem attributed to Homer, useless for any practical task.

Then ease would be worth much in life, and Sardanapalus would be borne to first place of all in happiness, or Margites too, if you like, whom Homer said was neither ploughman nor digger nor any other thing useful for life—if indeed these verses are Homer's.

de legendis gentilium libris ¶

OrationsImperial · Greek

Proverbial fool of ancient legend/poem, known for extreme ignorance.

— He would be far more foolish than Margites, who knew not how a man should use his wife after marriage.

oration 67 ¶

In Defence of LycophronClassical · Greek

The legendary fool of the pseudo-Homeric comic poem bearing his name, invoked proverbially as an example of extreme foolishness.

Do you think that the mad Orestes, or Margites, the greatest fool of all time, would act like that?

in defence of lycophron ¶

Alcibiades 2Classical · Greek

Legendary foolish figure described in a poem attributed to Homer as knowing many crafts but knowing them all badly.

for it is he who says of Margites that he knew many things, but knew them all ill:

alcibiades 2 ¶