A magirist is an expert cook. The word is not related to magi or magic, but instead derives from the Greek mageiros, meaning chef, butcher, or sacrificer: in ancient Greece, the same person performed all those roles. Magirist first appeared in English in the early nineteenth century, probably inspired by a work known as Ars Magirica, which is usually translated as The Art of the Cook. The oldest extant manuscript of this cookbook dates back to the eighth century, but the reputed author lived even longer ago: his name was Apicius, and he was born around 25 B.C. According to legend, he committed suicide after he ran out of money and was no longer able to support the astronomic expense of his gastronomic appetites.