Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Accubitum

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

ACCU'BITUM. A particular kind of couch used to recline upon at meals, which was substituted under the empire for the lectus tricliniaris. (Schol. Vet. ap. Juv. Sat. v. 17. Lamprid. Elagab. 19.) The precise form and character of this piece of furniture is nowhere described; but as the words accubo, accumbo, accubitus, in their strict sense refer to the act of a single person, it is but reasonable to conclude that the accubitum was a sofa intended for the reception of one person only: the more so as the annexed illustration (Accubitum/1.1) from an ancient Roman marble (Symeoni, Epitaffi Antichi, p. 51. Lione, 1558) shows that sofas of such a character were actually used at meals; while the interpretation given explains at the same time the object of their introduction, in order that any number of guests might be accommodated at an entertainment by the addition of extra sofas (Lamprid. Alex. Sev. 34.); whereas the accomodation afforded by a tricliniary couch was limited to nine.

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  Accubitum/1.1