LECTUS

( λέχος , κλίνη , εὐνή ), a bed. The complete bed ( εὐνή ) of a wealthy Greek in later times generally consisted of the following parts:— κλίνη , ἐπίτονοι , τυλεῖον or κνέφαλον , προσκεφάλειον , and στρώματα . The κλίνη is, properly speaking, merely the bedstead, and seems to have consisted only of posts fitted into one another and resting upon four feet. At the head part alone there was a board ( ἀνάκλιντρον or ἐπίκλιντρον ) to support the pillow and prevent its falling out. Sometimes, however, the bottom part of a bedstead was likewise protected by a board, so that in this case a Greek bedstead resembled what we call a French bedstead. The bedstead was provided with girths ( τόνοι , ἐπίτονοι , κειρία ) on which the bed or mattre ( κνέφαλον , τυλεῖον , or τύλη ) rested. The cover or ticking of a mattre was made of linen or woollen cloth, or of leather, and the usual material with which it was filled was either wool or dried weeds. At the head part of the bed, and supported by the ἐπίκλιντρον , lay a round pillow ( προσκεφάλειον ) to support the head. The bed-covers ( στρώματα ) were generally made of cloth, which was very thick and woolly, either on one or on both sides. The beds of the Romans ( lecti cubicula res ) in the earlier periods of the republic were probably of the same description as those used in Greece; but towards the end of the republic and during the empire, the richne and magnificence of the beds of the wealthy Romans far surpa ed every thing we find described in Greece. The bedstead was generally rather high, so that persons entered the bed ( scandere , ascendere ) by means of steps placed beside it ( scamnum ). It was sometimes made of metal, and sometimes of costly kinds of wood, or veneered with tortoise-shell or ivory; its feet ( fulcra ) were frequently of silver or gold. The bed or mattre ( culcita and torus ) rested upon girths or strings ( restes , fasciae , institae , or funes ), which connected the two horizontal side-posts of the bed. In beds destined for two persons the two sides are distinguished by different names; the side at which persons entered was open, and bore the name sponda ; the other side, which was protected by a board, was called pluteus . The two sides of such a bed are also distinguished by the names torus exterior and torus interior , or sponda exterior and sponda interior ; and from these expre ions it is not improbable that such lecti had two beds or mattre es, one for each person. Mattre es were in the earlier times filled with dry herbs or straw, and such beds continued to be used by the poor. But in subsequent times wool, and, at a still later period, feathers, were used by the wealthy for the beds as well as the pillows. The cloth or ticking ( operimentum or involucrum ) with which the beds or mattre es were covered, was called toral , torale , linteum , or segestre . The blankets or counterpanes ( vestes stragulae , stragula , per i stromata , per i pet as mat a ) were in the houses of wealthy Romans of the most costly description, and generally of a purple colour, and embroidered with beautiful figures in gold. Covers of this sort were called per i pet as mat a Attalica , because they were said to have been first used at the court of Attalus. The pillows were likewise covered with magnificent casings. The lectus genial is or adversus was the bridal bed, which stood in the atrium, opposite the janua, whence it derived the epithet adversus . It was generally high, with steps by its side, and in later times beautifully adorned. Respecting the lectus funebris see Funus . An account of the disposition of the couches used at entertainments is given under Triclinium .