E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Mareotic Luxury.
The Arva Mareot&icheck;ca mentioned by Ovid (Metamorphoses, ix. 73) produced the white grapes, from which was made the favourite beverage of Cleopatra, and mention of which is made both by Horace (Odes, i. 37) and Virgil (Georgics, ii. 91). The Arva Mareotica were the shores of Lake Mœris, and “Mareotic luxury” is about equal to “Sybaritic luxury.’
