Bible Dictionary
TRICLINIUM
A triclinium was a Roman dining couch or dining arrangement set along three sides of a room, allowing people to recline while eating. Reclining at meals was common in New Testament times, and the master of a feast was associated with the triclinium.
Definition
A triclinium was a Roman dining couch or dining arrangement set along three sides of a square room, with the fourth side open for food or tables. It was designed for reclining at meals.
Biblical Usage
Reclining at meals was common in New Testament times, even where English translations say “sat.” In John 2, the ruler or governor of the feast is called the master of the triclinium.
Historical Background
The arrangement was characteristic of Roman dining rooms, including alcoves in larger houses. Earlier Old Testament passages describe people sitting at meals, while reclining was viewed as a foreign luxury adopted by later aristocracy before becoming common in New Testament times.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>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 (Ge 27:19; Jud 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 (Am 2:8; 6:4). Still, we find it common in New Testament times (Mt 9:10; 26:7; Mr 6:22,39; 14:3,18; Lu 5:29; 7:36,37; 14:10; 17:7; Joh 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 Joh 2:8,9 the ruler or governor of the feast is called architriklinos, that is, the master of the triclinium.</p><p>See MEALS, III.</p><p>Nathan Isaacs</p>