A dictionary of Greek and Roman . raisedone knee, and upon it they placed the parchmentor tablet on which they wrote. From this kind ofoccupation the sopha was called lecticula lucubra-toria (Suet. Aug. 78), or more commonly lectulus.(Plin. Epist. v. 5 ; Ovid, TrisL i. 11. 38 ; compareAlstorph, De Lectitis Yeterum Diatriba, Amster-dam. 1704.) [] LECTICARII. [Lectica.] LECTISTERNIOI. Sacrifices being of thenature of feasts, the Greeks and Romans on occa-sion of extraordinary solemnities placed images ofthe gods reclining on couches, with tables andviands before them, as if the
A dictionary of Greek and Roman . raisedone knee, and upon it they placed the parchmentor tablet on which they wrote. From this kind ofoccupation the sopha was called lecticula lucubra-toria (Suet. Aug. 78), or more commonly lectulus.(Plin. Epist. v. 5 ; Ovid, TrisL i. 11. 38 ; compareAlstorph, De Lectitis Yeterum Diatriba, Amster-dam. 1704.) [] LECTICARII. [Lectica.] LECTISTERNIOI. Sacrifices being of thenature of feasts, the Greeks and Romans on occa-sion of extraordinary solemnities placed images ofthe gods reclining on couches, with tables andviands before them, as if they were really partakingof the things offered in sacrifice. This ceremonywas called a lectistemiiurn. Three specimens ofthe couches employed for the purpose are in theGlyptotek at Munich. The woodcut here intro-duced exhibits one of them, which is representedwith a cushion covered by a cloth hanging inample folds down each side. This beautiful pul-vinar (Sueton. Jul. 76 ; Corn. Nep. Timoih. 2) iswrought altogether in white marble, and is some-. what more than two feet in height. At theEpidura Jovis, which was the most noted lecti-sternium at Rome, and which was celebrated in theCapitol, the statue of Jupiter was laid in a recliningposture on a couch, while those of Juno andMinerva were seated on chairs by his side ; andthis distinction was observed in allusion to theancient custom, according to which only men re-clined and women sat at table. (VaL Max. ii. 1.§ 2.) Nevertheless it is probable that at a laterperiod both gods and goddesses were representedin the same position: at least four of them, Serapis and Juno or Isis, together withApollo and Diana, are so exhibited with a tablebefore them on the handle of a Roman lamp en-graved by Bartoli. (Luc. Ant. ii. 34.) Livy (v. 13)gives an account of a very splendid lectistemium,which he asserts to have been the origin of thepractice. [J. y.] LECTUS (Aexos, kXlvti, ehiH)\ a bed. In theheroic ages of Greece beds were very
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