Klinē

Klinai (Greek; sg.: klinē),^[1] known in Latin as lectus triclinaris,^[2] were a type of ancient furniture used by the ancient Greeks in their symposia and by the ancient Romans in their somewhat different convivia.^[3]

Votive relief showing a funerary banquet, 5th century BC. The dead man is shown as a heroized man lying on a klinē. On display in Room 19–20 of the National Archaeological Museum, Athens.

In the later part of the Hellenistic period, an arrangement of three klinai positioned in a 'U' shape developed, which together formed the triclinium.^[4] Each kline of a triclinium offered room for three diners. The seating arrangement of the reclining dinner guests was given a strict significance.^[4]

A two-klinai arrangement created a biclinium, with the two couches either at a right angle^[5] or facing each other.^[6] Biclinium (pl.: biclinia) may also mean a dining couch for two persons in ancient Rome. ^[7]