Triclinium

I went to a gala dinner last night. It was the whole deal; speeches, fancy clothes, business associates and potential contacts. Servants brought in the food and deftly laid napkins over knees. My cup was filled for me, the people around me said witty things.


There was entertainment, congratulations, discussion, judgements.


The only drawback was that everyone had to sit in firm, straight backed chairs. The tables were high and we all tucked our knees underneath to eat - real modern style. There wasn’t a couch, elbow bolster, low table or finger bowl of scented water to be seen. The modern formal dinning posture is seriously out of step with the heights of republican Roman triclinium design.


Not that I really know, but I wonder how comfortable it actually was to eat spread out on a couch. The system as I understand it was to set a single low square table with food, drink and accoutrements. One side was reserved for staff/slave access to bring food and remove dishes. The other 3 sides each had a large flat couch pushed very close. When a diner arrived they would sit on the outer edge while an attendant removed their shoes. They could then lie back on their side so their head was closest to the table and their feet furthest away. Each of the couches held 2 or 3 people of a maximum of 9 diners at the meal.


The eating posture required a rounded pillow for under an arm, as people lay in a position with their stomach half forward towards the mattress. From the middle position it would have been easier to talk to one couch mate in front of you. I can see 6 people would have been the prime set up.


It might have been fairly intimate laying out next to someone you just met at a Roman gala dinner. Exposing perhaps in some way.


I wonder if it’ll ever roll back around into fashion?