The Deipnosophists (2.51)

Now let us speak of provocatives to appetite, called πρόπομα.—When they were brought round by the butler, Ulpian said,

Does the word πρόπομα occur in any ancient author in the sense in which we use it now?

and when every one joined in the question,

I will tell you,

said Athenæus;

Phylarchus the Athenian, (though some called

v.1.p.96

him a native of Naucratis,) in the book where he speaks of Zelas the king of the Bithynians, who invited to supper all the leaders of the Galatians, and then plotted against them, and was killed himself also, says, if I recollect his words rightly, 'A certain πρόπομα was brought round before supper, as was the custom of antiquity.'

And when Ulpian had said this, he asked for something to drink from the wine-cooler, saying, that he was in good humour with himself for having been able to remember this so very à propos. But there were things of all sorts, says Athenæus, used in these προπόματα.