Klinai (Greek for couches; singular klinē, and known in Latin as lectus triclinaris) were a type of ancient furniture used by the ancient Greeks in their ...
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symposia and by the ancient Romans in their somewhat different convivia.
In the later part of the Hellenistic period an arrangement of three klinai positioned in a ´U´ shape developed, which together formed the triclinium. Each kline of a triclinium offered room for three diners, and the seating arrangement of the reclining dinner guests was given a strict significance.
A two-klinai arrangement created a biclinium, with the two couches either at a right angle or facing each other. Biclinium (plural biclinia) may also mean a dining couch for two persons in ancient Rome.
