Triclinium

trı̄ - klin´ti - um (Latin from Greek τρικλίνιον , triklı́nion , from tri and klı́nē , "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 ( Genesis 27:19; Judges 19:6; 1 Samuel 20:5; 1 Kings 13:20 ). Reclining was a luxurious habit imported from foreign countries by the degenerate aristocracy in the days of the later prophets (Amos 2:8; Amos 6:4 ). Still, we find it common in New Testament times (Matthew 9:10; Matthew 26:7; Mark 6:22 , Mark 6:39; Mark 14:3 , Mark 14:18; Luke 5:29; Luke 7:36 , Luke 7:37; Luke 14:10; Luke 17:7; John 12:2; in these passages, though English Versions of the Bible read "sat," the Greek words are anákeimai , sunanákeimai , anapı́pto , katákeimai and anaklı́nō , all indicating "reclining"; compare John 13:23; John 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 John 2:8 , John 2:9 the ruler or governor of the feast is called architrı́klinos , that is, the master of the triclinium. See MEALS , III.