Triclinium
Triclinium
tr-klinti-um (Latin from Greek , triklnion, from tri and klne, a couch): A couch for reclining at meals among the ancient Romans, arranged along three sides of a square, the fourth side being left open for bringing in food or tables, when these were used. In the larger Roman houses the dining-rooms consisted of small alcoves in the atrium arranged to receive triclinia. In early Old Testament times people sat at their meals (Gen 27:19; Jdg 19:6; 1Sa 20:5; 1Ki 13:20). Reclining was a luxurious habit imported from foreign countries by the degenerate aristocracy in the days of the later prophets (Amo 2:8; Amo 6:4). Still, we find it common in New Testament times (Mat 9:10; Mat 26:7; Mar 6:22, Mar 6:39; Mar 14:3, Mar 14:18; Luk 5:29; Luk 7:36, Luk 7:37; Luk 14:10; Luk 17:7; Joh 12:2; in these passages, though English Versions of the Bible read sat, the Greek words are anakeimai, sunanakeimai, anappto, katakeimai and anaklno, all indicating reclining; compare Joh 13:23; Joh 21:20; here the King James Version translates these words lean, probably with reference to the Jewish custom of leaning at the Passover feast). In Joh 2:8, Joh 2:9 the ruler or governor of the feast is called architrklinos, that is, the master of the triclinium. See MEALS, III.