Greek Anthology Book XIV: Metrodorus: 137

Arithmetical Epigram of Metrodorus

 * Let fall a tear as you pass by; for we are those guests of Antiochus whom his house slew when it fell, and God gave us in equal shares this place for a banquet and a tomb.


 * Four of us from Tegea lie here,
 * twelve from Messene,
 * five from Argos,
 * and half of the banqueters were from Sparta,
 * and Antiochus himself.
 * A fifth of the fifth part of those who perished were from Athens,
 * and do thou, Corinth, weep for Hylas alone.

Solution
Let $n$ be the number of guests who were killed in the accident.


 * $4$ came from Tegea


 * $12$ came from Messene


 * $5$ came from Argos


 * $\dfrac n 2$ came from Sparta


 * $1$ was Antiochus


 * $\dfrac n {5 \times 5}$ came from Athens


 * $1$ (that is, Hylas) came from Corinth.

We have:

So there were $50$ guests.


 * $25$ came from Sparta


 * $2$ came from Athens

and the numbers of the remainder are specified explicitly.