Triclinium - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

TRICLINIUM

tri-klin'-ti-um (Latin from Greek triklinion, from tri and kline, "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; 6:4). Still, we find it common in New Testament times (Matthew 9:10; 26:7; Mark 6:22,39; 14:3,18; Luke 5:29; 7:36,37; 14:10; 17:7; John 12:2; in these passages, though English Versions of the Bible read "sat," the Greek words are anakeimai, sunanakeimai, anapipto, katakeimai and anaklino, all indicating "reclining"; compare Joh 13:23; 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 2:8,9 the ruler or governor of the feast is called architriklinos, that is, the master of the triclinium.

See MEALS, III.

Nathan Isaacs

Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'TRICLINIUM'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.