Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Lectus

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

LECTUS (λέκτρον). A bed to sleep in (cubicularis, Cic. Div. ii. 65.). The ancient bedsteads were of considerable height, requiring a footstool (scamnum), or a set of steps (gradus) to get into them; and were made like our largest-sized sofas, with a head board (anaclinterium, sometimes a corresponding one against the feet, and a high back (pluteus) on the further side, but entirely open on the one at which the occupants entered (sponda). The frame was strung with girths (fasciae, restes, institae), which supported a thick mattress (torus, culcita), on which were placed a bolster and pillow (cubital, cervical). All these particulars are exhibited in the annexed example (Lectus/1.1), from a bas-relief in the British Museum.

2. Lectus genialis (εὐνή). The marriage bed; to which the wife was conducted on the eve of her marriage by the pronuba, after she had retired from the bridal feast. It was a large bed, handsomely decorated, and raised to a very great height from the ground, as is indicated by the flight of steps at the foot of the annexed example (Lectus/2.1), which represents the lectus genialis of Dido, in the Vatican Virgil. Cic. Cluent. 5. Compare Lucan. ii. 356.

3. Lectus adversus. A sort of symbolical marriage bed; so termed, because it was placed in the atrium opposite the entrance of the house; or, perhaps, the lectus genialis itself was brought out after the marriage and placed in the atrium; and on this the mistress of the household used to sit, as it were, in state, while she superintended the labours of her slaves and attendants, who worked at their looms in that apartment. Laberius ap. Gell. xvi. 9. 1. Prop. iv. 2. 85.

4. Lectus tricliniaris. A couch adapted for the reception of three persons to recline upon at their meals, in the manner explained s. ACCUBO. (Cic. Verr. ii. 2. 74.) It had a railing slightly raised at one of its ends, at that, viz., which would be on the left of the person reclining upon it, and upon this he supported his left arm; the other two places were separated from each other by pillows. All these particulars are to be seen in the annexed engraving (Lectus/4.1), from a bas-relief which represents the visit of Bacchus to Icarus. The vacant place against the rail, which is seen on the right hand, is the one which the god is about to occupy, after the Faun in the foreground has taken off his shoes, according to the prevalent custom before lying down to eat; and Icarus rests his left arm upon the pillow which separates his place from that of his guest. When a party consisted of more than three persons, it was the custom to arrange three of these couches together round a table, so that the whole formed three sides of a square, leaving the bottom of it open for the approach of the attendants, in the manner represented by the annexed diagram (Lectus/4.2), which were then respectively designated lectus medius, summus, and imus; the middle one being considered the most dignified, and imus the least so. The places also on each couch had their degrees of precedence, and particular names to distinguish them. On the two side couches the places of the highest rank were those next to the rail (i), then the centre ones (ii), and the last (iii); but on the middle couch the post of honour was at the other extremity (iii), which was always left for the greatest personage, and was thence called consularis. The host occupied the highest place (i) on the lowest couch (imus), in order to be near to his principal guest. Finally, the respective names by which the places on each of the couches were distinguished are as follows: —

Middle couch. 1. Summus in medio. 2. Inferior in medio. 3. Imus in medio.

Upper couch. 1. Summus in summo. 2. Medius in summo. 3. Imus in summo.

Lower couch. 1. Summus in imo. 2. Medius in imo. 3. Imus in imo.

Hence such expressions as superius or inferius accumbere are easily understood. Sallust. ap. Serv. Aen. i. 698. Hor. Sat. ii. 8. Plut. Symp. i. Quaest. 3.

5. Lectus lucubratorius. (Senec. Ep. 72.) Same as LECTULUS.

6. Lectus funebris. (Pet. Sat. 114. 12. Pers. iii. 103.) A bier upon which dead bodies were carried out to the funeral pile, or to their place of sepulture; as shown by the annexed example (Lectus/6.1), from a sepulchral bas-relief.

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  Lectus/1.1
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  Lectus/2.1
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  Lectus/4.1
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  Lectus/4.2
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  Lectus/6.1