lectus

lectus, a, um, Part. and P. a., from 2. lego.

lectus, i, m. (nom. lectum, i, n., Dig. 32, 1, 52, § 9; 34, 2, 19, § 8; lectus, ūs, Plaut. Am. 1, 3, 15 (513); al. lecti; Sen. Ep. 95, 72 Haas; Cornif. ap. Prisc. 711 P.) [Gr. λέχος, ἄλοχος, λόχος, λόχμη; Lat. lectica; cf. Germ. Lager], a couch, bed.

• I In gen.: meum quidem te lectum certe occupare non sinam, Plaut. Truc. 5, 71 (963): dapsilis, id. ib. 1, 1, 34 (55): standumst in lecto, id. Men. 1, 1, 26 (102): lecti loris subtenti, Cato R. R. 10: in lecto esse, Cic. Fam. 9, 23; id. Tusc. 5, 20, 59: lecto teneri, to be confined to one's bed, id. Verr. 2, 5, 7, § 16: surgere lecto, Prop. 2, 18 (3, 15), 31: descendere lecto, Tib. 1, 2, 19 (al. derepere): lectus Proculā minor, too short for, Juv. 3, 203: pedes lecti, in quo cubat Dialis, luto tenui circumlitos esse oportet, Gell. 10, 15, 14 sqq.—Plur.: lectos eburatos, auratos (advexit), Plaut. Stich. 2, 2, 53 (377).—
• II In partic.
• • A A bridal bed: lectus genialis, the nuptial-bed, which, after the marriage, was called adversus (because it stood opposite the door): genialis, Cic. Clu. 5 fin.: adversus, Prop. 4 (5), 11, 85: jugalis, Verg. A. 4, 496: aucupor in lecto mendaces caelibe somnos, Ov. H. 13, 107.—
  • B A couch for reclining on at meals, a dining- or eating-couch, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 74, § 183: lecto recumbere, Hor. Ep. 1, 5, 1: in imo lecto residere, Suet. Aug. 64.—
  • C A couch or settee on which it was customary to read or write, a reading-couch, Sen. Ep. 72, 2.—
  • D A funeral bed or couch, a bier: flebis et arsuro positum me, Delia, lecto, Tib. 1, 1, 61: lecto funebri aptatus, Petr. 114, 12: corpus ipsum impositum lecto erat, Quint. 6, 1, 31.

lectus, ūs, m. [2. lego],

• a reading, Prisc. 1221 P.—
• II = 2. lectus, q. v.

1. lēctus, a, um, PAdi. (v. 2. lego), I) auserlesen, ausgesucht, pueri, Cic.: verba, Cic.: verba lectissima, Cic. – II) übtr., auserlesen, musterhaft, ein Muster von, vortrefflich in seiner Art, a) v. Pers. (s. Moser Cic. Verr. 2, 49. p. 190), adulescens, Cic.: ut neque vir melior neque femina lectior in terris sit, Cic.: femina lectissima, Cic.: lectissimus atque ornatissimus adulescens, Cic. – b) v. Lebl.: vinum Massicum, Hor.: argentum, gutes, vollwertiges Geld, Ter.

2. lectus, ī, m. (vgl. λέχος, λέκτρον), die Lagerstatt, u. zwar: I) zum Schlafen, das Bett, 1) im allg., Cic. u.a.: cubicularis, Schlafbett, Cic.: argenteus, Curt.: caelebs, eheloses, eines Ehelosen, Ov.: vacuus, mit keinem Genossen (keiner Genossin) geteilt, liebeleer, Prop.: lectus doloris, Schmerzenslager, Ambros.: lecto teneri, das Bett hüten, Cic.: so auch cum etiam tum in lecto Crassus esset, Cic. – 2) insbes., das Braut-, Ehebett, gew. mit dem Zusatz iugalis, Verg., od. genialis, Cic., od. (weil es der Tür des Atriums gegenüberstand) adversus, Laber. fr. u. Prop.; vgl. Schmid Hor. ep. 1, 1, 87. – II) das Ruhebett, 1) das Sofa zum Lesen, Meditieren u. Schreiben (da die Alten dies meist in liegender Stellung taten), Sen. ep. 72, 2. – 2) das Speisesofa (vollst. convivalis lectus, Tac. ann. 14, 9), gew. für drei Personen, Cic. u.a.: tricliniaris, Plin. u. Lampr.: ligneus, Sen.: sternite lectos, Plaut.: lectus est stratus, Plaut. – 3) zum Schaustellen der Toten, Paradebett, Leichenbett, die Bahre (vollst. lectus funebris, Val. Max. 4, 1, 12. Petron. 114, 12), arsuro positus lecto, Tibull.: in lecto componi, Sen.: lecto imponi, Quint.: lectum in forum detulerunt, Suet.: mortui lectum (die Totenbahre) pro rostris sustulerunt quattuor filii, Vell. – ➳ Nbf. lectus, ūs, m., Plaut. Amph. 509 Ussing (Fleckeisen lecti). Cornif. bei Prisc. 6, 73. Sen. ep. 95, 72 H. Vgl. Bursian Jahresber. 1, 411 f. u. 453. – u. lectum, ī, n., Ulp. dig. 32, 1, 52. § 9 u. 34, 2, 19. § 8.

3. lēctus, ūs, m. (2. lego), I) = ἀνάγνωσις, das Lesen, Prisc. partit. XII. vers. Aen. 1, 17. p. 463, 16 K. – II) das Lesen = die Lektüre, Belesenheit, Sen. contr. exc. 3. § 3. p. 242, 1 K. mit den codd. (Bursian p. 359, 20 lectio). – III) = 2. lectus, s. dort a. E.

1 lectus [CL p. ppl. of legere] 1 chosen, select: a (of person); b (of animal). a sic soboles Paulae degit lectissima virgo Aldh. VirgV 2158; tu, Xenophon, uxorem ~issimam maxime vis Alcuin Rhet. 30 (= Cic. Inv. Rhet. I 52); nunc memorare libens semper, lectissime presul, / ‥ / mercedem Æthelwulf Abb. 4; quisquis erat in curia ~issimus miles vel capellanus W. Malm. GR V 419 p. 497; ~issimorum militum, quos ibi rex locaverat, munitione Id. HN 522 p. 75; potatores ~issimos Devizes 41 (v. exebriare).  b tres equos ~issimos ‥ amisit W. Malm. GR III 244; ovibus ‥ ~is Alb. Lond. DG 6. 32 (v. eximius 1b). 2 (as sb.) collected object (in quot., gleanings). 1453 lxvj s. viij d. pro certis ~is bladii et alia stuffura ejusdem Johannis combustis in eadem domo (DL Ac. Var.) JRL Bull. XL p. 424.

2 lectus, ~um [CL] 1 couch, bed: a (for rest or sleep); b (for billeting); c (for dining); d (for study or meditation); e (for sexual intercourse); f (sickbed, esp. as ~us aegritudinis, doloris, infirmitatis, languoris, etc.); g (deathbed, bier, esp. as ~us mortalis); h (malum ~i) illness which confines one to bed. a ~um non multo feno instructum habeat Gildas Pen. 1; puber / lecto sopitus cum somno membra dedisset Aldh. VirgV 1275; cum ‥ post caenam in ~o membra posuisset Bede HE III 11 p. 149; quamdiu dormierit in ~o suo ‥ Lanfr. Const. 141; 1277 centum et octo coffras ‥ quindecim ~a Law Merch. 139; 1388 unum aliud ~um ‥ iij ~a integra IMisc 332/12; 1404 bona et mercandisas ‥ videlicet, pecuniam numeratam, pannos laneos, ~us, carbones maritimos Lit. Cant. III 79.  b 1370 injunctum est omnibus tenentibus ville quod prestent lect’ terrario aut bursario sub pena dim. m. Hal. Durh. 101; 1373 quod quilibet eorum prestant lect’ Ib. 120; 1380 quia noluerunt accomodare ~os domino, prout presentatum est per cursorem scac. Ib. 166.  c triclinium, ubi tria ~a sternuntur, cenaculum GlC T 282; ~us servorum, discumbentium grabatum WW.  d de molendino ad ~um, de utroque ad agrum transitus esse potest; non autem de agro ad ~um, im[m]o de neutro ad molendinum redire licet Pull. Sent. 934A.  e †genialis [l. geniales] ~i, qui sternuntur puellis nubentibus GlC G 50; D. Bec. 2025 (v. futuere); Osb. Glouc. Deriv. 240 (v. genialis 1); ut sit ejus ‥ copia similis glorie Salomonis ‥ et ~i secura letitia non minor Map NC IV 11 f. 52v.  f tactus infirmitate decidit in ~um Bede HE V 13 p. 311; decubuit in ~o egritudinis jacens fere xv diebus Canon. G. Sempr. 154v; 1160 archiepiscopum in ~o languoris decumbentem J. Sal. Ep. 78 (128 p. 223); ut opem ferat dilectus dilecte super ~um doloris sui? J. Ford Serm. 1. 4; de ~o tam diuturni consurgentis languoris sponsus ipse juxta inolitam pietatem suam non continebit viscera sua Ib. 64. 8; 1241 tres ~os ‥ in hospitali (v. constituere 4d); 1293 commonachum in celario ejusdem loci ~o infirmitatis tunc inventum DCCant. Register/Q f. 14b.  g feretrum, ~um mortuorum GlC F 124; 1220 nunquam in ligia potestate sua eam [cartam] fecit; immo eam fecit in ~o mortali, si facta fuit CurR VIII 190.  h 1194 de malo ~i (v. essoniare 1b); de malo ~i Hengham Parva 1; CBaron 81 (v. essonia 1b). 2 a (dist. by sort). b (~us campester) campbed. c (~us plumalis or sim.) featherbed. d (~us plecticius) folding bed. e (~us rotalis) trundlebed, truckle-bed. a circulatorius ‥ i. ille qui ~os tornatiles facit Osb. Glouc. Deriv. 118; hec camma, -e, i. ~us tornatilis Ib. 134; 1421 pro predictis iij ~is de sargia embroudata cum celoris et curtinis continentibus iiij ~os duplices EEC 464; cum ‥ ij ~is Wyntonie Ib. 477; 1457 in j sylour cum lez curtyns emp’ pro principali ~o in le Waterchambr, x s. Ac. Durh. 151.  b 1610 ~us campester LTR AcDecl 3084.  c utensilia, viz. ‥ ~um plumalem RegiamM II 125; 1298 habuit in bonis ‥ ij ~os plumiales debiles DocCOx 175; 1370 ~um plumale (v. flammeolus 3b); s1399 cooperientes eum cum ~o pennato [v. l. penulato] A. a fetherbed, steterunt super eum, et conculcantes suffocaverunt V. Ric. II 162; 1403 j ~us de plumis Ac. Durh. 217; 1444 lego ‥ j ~um plumarium Test. Ebor. II 101.  d 1209 pro ~o domini regis plecticio Misae 21.  e 1459 sint duo lecti principales, et duo ~i rotales, trookyll beddys vulgariter appellati Stat. Coll. Ox. II Magdalen 72. 3 furnishings for a bed, bedding, bedhangings. 1248 fieri faciat quendam ~um ‥ de meliori panno retato quem invenire poterit sine auro Cl 86; 1349 ad faciendum unum ~um pro rege solempne de velvett’ diversorum colorum de armis regis quartell[at’] cont[inentem] j coopertorium, j dorsarium, j materaz, j celaturam, iij curtinos (KR Ac 391/15) Arch. XXXI 36; s1381 magnum ‥ thesaurum pecunie, jocalia, vasa argentea, †lactos [MS: lectos], et aulas preciosas ‥ in aquam ‥ submercerunt Chr. Kirkstall 125; 1388 unus ~us cum bordura cum armis regis Scocie; alius vero ~us rubii coloris cum magnis circulis et magnis leonibus binis infra circulos (Invent. Westm.) Arch. LII 268; 1391 pro catenis et hokes ad pendendum ~um domini in le caban Ac. H. Derby 76; 1454 j ~us cum tapetis rubei coloris, una cum arboribus et avibus in eodem intextis Ac. Durh. 148. 4 place for cultivation of living things, (~us anguillarum) eel-bed. sub quo [dumo] ~us anguillarum reperiretur W. Cant. Mir. Thom. VI 149. 5 (topog.): a (~us fluminis) river bed. b (~us lapidicinii) quarry bed. a sicut est cursus aquarum super terram et origo fontium ~us fluminum et multitudo lacuum et stagnorum M. Scot Part. 297.  b 1431 quod omnia ostia ‥ et decem fenestras computando duas minores pro una ex bonis lapidibus et durioribus de inferiori ~o lapidicinii Philippi Grove ‥ dolabit (Indent.) Arch. Hist. Camb. I 72. 6 (w. ref. to artefact): a (~us molaris, molendini, or sim.) base on which millstone rests. b (~us ad carrettam) base-frame, chassis of a cart. c saddle, seat. a 1283 in molaribus dictorum molendinorum corrigendis et cariandis et debite in ~is eorum ponendis (Ac. Merstham) DCCant.; in j novo ~o pro molendino aquatico (Ib.) Ib.; 1383 in mosso colligendo pro lecto molar’ et capit’ stagnorum dicti molendini in eo cubando, xij d. MinAc 1209/15 m. 8.  b 1287 in j ~o ad carett[am], j pari bas’, j collar’ MinAc 843/32.  c si vir es electus bene tectus sit tibi lectus Garl. Mor. Scol. 568; 1285 (v. contracingulum); depinge in eo [anulo] ‥ inter manus suas septem homines inberbes habentes alas et inclinantes ad ipsum inter manus suas. deinde depone septem ~os de substancia cujuslibet [sc. planete] Bacon V 163. 7 (W.) (unit of land held by) several generations of one family, gwely. 1272 villa de Travenen et ~us, sc. stirps, Wyn Du in villa de Fenclu debent custodire et nutrire catulos domini Cl 511; 1301 sunt ibi lij liberi tenentes de montana Wallens’ de uno ~o et debent xiij s. et iiij d. ‥ pro omnibus, et sunt ibi xx liberi Wallenses de alio ~o et debent x s. ‥ pro omnibus IPM 101/6 m. 2; 1326 sunt tres lecti qui vulgo vocantur gwele BB St. Davids 268; Surv. Denb. 157 (v. 2 gavella); villata de Wyckewere ‥ consistebat temporibus principum ante conquestum in octo ~is ‥ de primo ~o, quod consistit totaliter in tenura liberorum et quod est in omnibus villis et hamellis, fuerunt tria ~a seu tres gavelle Ib. 211; 1352 tota villata de Penman tenetur in quatuor ~is et omnes inde tenentes sunt nativi, viz. Gwele Ithyle ‥ Rec. Caern. 90; 1355 proprietarios et coheredes illius ~i vocati Gwely Gwarthloet in villa de Bryngwynes (Indent.) Tribal System app. 106.

1 lēctus, (10) a, um, p. de lego 2 || adj^t , choisi, de choix, dʼélite : lectissima verba Cic. Or. 227, les termes les mieux choisis ; lectissimi viri Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 15, hommes dʼélite ; lectior femina Cic. Inv. 1, 52, femme plus distinguée.

2 lectus, (8) ī, m. (cf. λέχος), lit : Cato Agr. 10 ; Cic. Fam. 9, 23 ; Tusc. 5, 59 ; Verr. 2, 5, 16 || lit nuptial : Cic. Clu. 14 ; Virg. En. 4, 496 || lit de table : Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 183 ; Hor. Ep. 1, 5, 1 || lit de repos : Sen. Ep. 72, 2 || lit funèbre : Tib. 1, 1, 61 ; Quint. 6, 1, 31.

➳ gén. lectus Pl. Amph. 513 ; Her. d. Prisc. Gramm. 6, 73 ; *Sen. Ep. 95, 72.

3 lēctŭs, ūs, m. , ¶ 1 (lego 2), lecture : Prisc. Vers. Æn. 1, 17 ¶ 2 v. lectus 2

➳.

lectus , i vel *us. m.
牀。饗宴之牀。— arachaicus 古貌之床。— adversus 東床。— funebris 棺材。枢。Lecto teneri 病臥在牀。Alienum lectum concutere 姦人婦。

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lectus , us. m.
揀。

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lectus , a, um. part. p. c. s. v. lego.
Lectissimus juvenis 大才之幼年。

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lēctus (1) adj.with comp.and sup.

• P. of 2 lego, chosen, picked, selected, choice, excellent: Lectumst (argentum), of full weight, T.: neque lectior femina: lectissimi viri: boves, O.: verbis lectissimis dicere.—Plur.as subst, picked men: viginti lectis equitum comitatus, V.

lectus (2) ī, m

• 3 LEG-, a couch, bed, lounge, sofa: in lecto quiescebat, S.: lecto teneri, be confined: e lecto surgere, T.: lectus Proculā minor, too short, Iu.: posito lecto, bier, O.—A bridal bed: genialis: iugalis, V.: Non Hymenaeus adest illi lecto, marriage, O.—A couch at meals, diningcouch: lectos sternere, T.: lecto recumbere, H.

LECTUS

LECTUS(κλίνη, λέχος, εὐνή), a bed. In the Homeric poems we find three kinds of beds distinguished: (1) λέχος, a heavy compact bedstead,--even a fixture, as the famous bedstead in the palace of Ulysses; (2) δέμνια, easily transportable, like a camp-bed; (3) a shake down upon the floor, with no framework at all, expressed by the words χάμαδις στορέσαι. As the most noticeable instance of the λέχος, we have the description (Od. 23.190) of the bed made for himself by Ulysses. The actual trunk of an olive-tree, round which he has built and roofed his chamber, forms one solid and immovable post, lopped and smoothed with the axe; upon this is constructed the rest of the wooden framework, with the other three feet; the whole inlaid with gold and silver and ivory, and having a red leather strap across to support the bedding. (Buchholz somewhat strangely interprets the ἱμὰς to be a strap hung above the bed, by which the occupant might raise himself up. The only argument for such a view appears to be the use of the singular; but there is no reason why one girth should not be used--τόνος would be the word in later Greek--even if we do not take it as a poetical usage of singular for plural.)

For the δέμνια as a quickly improvised bed, see Od. 4.296, 7.335; Il. 24.643. From these passages it appears that δέμνια means a light framework, such as slaves could bring out into the portico, and over it was spread the bedding (see below). The passage in the Iliad, it is true, seems to use λέχος contrary to custom in the same sense. For the third kind, see Od. 20.1, where Ulysses, as a poor wanderer, has no bedstead but merely an ox-hide and the bedding placed upon it. The λέχος was, as has been said, a fixed or at least a solid framework, and therefore called πυκινόν (Od. 7.340, &c.): when στορέσαι is joined to it, the arrangement of the bedding is referred to. It is made with rounded posts (δινωτόν) and carved. (The word τρητός, however, to which Buchholz gives this meaning, may only imply that the framework was pierced for the cords or girths.) The plural τὰ λέχεα includes bedstead and bedding, which was arranged as follows. On the λέχος or δέμνια were placed (1) ῥήγεα = mattress and pillows. (Göll argues from their being washed that they were merely woollen rugs; but they are always distinct from τάπητες.) (2) Over these were spread τάνητες, woollen blankets, not for a covering, but to make the bed softer; both ῥήγεα and τάπητες were under the sleeper, and over him were (3) χλαῖναι as a coverlet (Od. 4.296, 7.338; Il. 24.647). The word εὐνὴ in Homer is merely a sleeping-place with or without a bed (comp. Od. 7.347, 11.188). The poorer classes, as in the passage cited from Od. xx., had a hide in place of the λέχος, and κώεα in place of the ῥήγεα and τάπητες (cf. Od. 14.518. For fuller discussion, see Buchholz, Homerische Realien, § 60). The complete bed consisted in later times of the following parts: κλίνη, ἐπίτονοι, τυλεῖον or κνέφαλλον, προσκεφάλαιον, and στρώματα.

The κλίνη, though used generally for the whole (εὐνὴ being rare in prose), is, properly speaking, only 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 this was wanting, as we see in drawings on ancient vases (see also Poll. 10.34; 6.9). Sometimes, however, the bottom part of a bedstead was likewise protected by a board, so that in this case a Greek bedstead resembled a modern so-called French bedstead. The κλίνη was generally made of wood, which in quality varied according to the means of the persons for whose use it was destined; for in some cases we find that it was made of solid maple or boxwood, or veneered with a coating of these more expensive woods. At a later period bedsteads were not only veneered with ivory or tortoiseshell, but sometimes had silver feet (Pollux, l. c.; Aelian, V.H. 12.29; Athen. 6. p. 255). This method of veneering is like that described by Pliny, Plin. Nat.9.33: testudinum putamina secare in lamnas, lectosque et repositoria his vestire Carvilius Pollio instituit.

The bedstead was provided with girths (τόνοι, from which possibly the metaphor about Cratinus is drawn in Aristoph. Eq. 532), ἐπίτονοι, κείρια on which rested the bed or mattress (κνέφαλον, τυλεῖον or τύλη: the last word, however, is an old Ionic domestic term in this sense, in Attic a knot or hump: Rutherford's New Phrynichus, p. 256). The cover or ticking of a mattress was made of linen or woollen cloth or leather, and the usual stuffing (πλήρωμα) was dried reeds or wool. At the head part of the bed and supported by the ἐπίκλιντρον lay a round pillow (προσκεφάλαιον) to support the head; and in some ancient pictures two other square pillows are seen, which were intended to support the back. The covers of such pillows are striped in several pictures on ancient vases (see the woodcut under SYMPOSIUM), and were therefore probably of various colours. They were undoubtedly filled with the same materials as the beds and mattresses.

The bed-covers, which may be termed blankets or counterpanes, were called by a variety of names, such as περιστρώματα, ὑποστρώματα, ἐπιβλήματα, ἐφεστρίδες, χλαῖναι, ἀμφιεστρίδες, ἐπιβόλαια, δάπιδες, ψιλοδάπιδες, ξυστίδες, χρυσόπαστοι, τάπητες or ἀμφιτάπητες. The common name, however, was στρώματα. They were generally made of cloth, which was very thick and woolly either on one or on both sides (Pollux, 6.9). It is not always easy to distinguish whether the ancients, when speaking of κλῖναι, mean beds in our sense of the word, or the couches on which they lay at meal-times. We consequently do not know whether the descriptive epithets of κλῖναι, enumerated by Pollux, belong to beds or to couches. But this matters little, as there was scarcely any difference between the beds of the ancients and their couches, with this exception, that the latter being made for appearance as well as for comfort, were, on the whole, undoubtedly more splendid and costly than the former. Considering, however, that bedsteads were often made of the most costly materials, we may reasonably infer that the coverings and other ornaments of beds were little inferior to those of couches. Notwithstanding the splendour and comfort of many Greek beds, the Asiatics, who have at all times excelled the Europeans in these kinds of luxuries, said that the Greeks did not understand how to make a comfortable bed (Athen. 2. p. 48; Plut. Pel. 30). The places most celebrated for the manufacture of splendid bed-covers were Miletus, Corinth, and Carthage (Aristoph. Ran. 410, 542, with the Schol.; Lysistr. 732; Cic. c. Verr. 1.3. 4; Athen. i. pp. 27, 28). It appears that the Greeks, though they wore nightgowns (χιτὼν εὐνητήρ,, Pollux, 10.123), did not simply cover themselves with the στρώματα, but wrapped themselves up in them. Less wealthy persons continued, according to the ancient custom, to use skins of sheep and other animals, especially in winter, as blankets (Pollux, 10.123; Aristoph. Nub. 10).

The bedsteads of the poorer classes are designated by the names σκίμπους, ἀσκάντης: a description of such a bed is given by Aristophanes (Plut. 540, &c.; compare Lysistr. 916). Socrates sleeps on a σκίμπους (Plat. Protag. 310 C). For this κράββατος is used by New Testament writers and in Scholiasts; it is said by Salmasius to be a Macedonian word, whence its use in Hellenistic Greek (see Rutherford, New Phrynichus, p. 138). The words χαμεύνη and χαμεύνιον, which originally signified a bed of straw or dry herbs made on the ground (Theocrit. 13.33; Plut. Lyc. 16), were afterwards applied to a bed which was only near the ground, to distinguish it from the κλίνη, which was generally a high bedstead. Χαμεύνια were the usual beds for slaves, soldiers in the field, and poor citizens, and the mattresses used in them were mere mats made of rushes or bast. (Pollux, l. c., 6.11, 10.7; Becker-Göll, Charikles, 3.74-81; Guhl and Koner, 143.)

The beds of the Romans (lecti cubiculares) in the earlier periods of the Republic were probably of the same description as those used in Greece; <*>wards the end of the Republic and during <*>npire, when Asiatic luxuries were im<*> into Italy, the richness and magnificence <*>beds of the wealthy Romans surpassed <*>Thing we find described in Greece. The bedstead was generally rather high, so that persons reached the bed by means of a footstool (scamnum, Varro, L. L. 5.35, 46): it was veneered with costly woods, tortoiseshell and ivory (cf. supra on κλίνη), or overlaid with plates (lamnae) of gold or silver (Mart. 9.22), or gold leaf (bracteae) which the dishonest slave scrapes off with his nail (Mart. 8.33, 5). The aurei lecti (Cic. Tusc. 5.2. 1, 61; Suet. Jul. 49) and eburni (Hor. Sat. 2.6, 103) were no doubt, as Göll says, not solid gold or ivory, but overlaid with gold and ivory = inaurati, eburati: so also lecti aerati (Liv. 39.6) were overlaid with bronze. We hear, however, of massive silver bedsteads (Petron. 73; Lamprid. Heliog. 29). Often the feet, too (fulcra), were of gold or silver (Verg. A. 6.603; Suet. Cl. 32; Prop. 3.5, 5, 4.7-Z2, 3; Juven. 11.95). Becker less satisfactorily takes these fulcra as equivalent to scamnum (supports for the foot in mounting the bed). In Propertius, Cynthia namque meo visa est incumbere fulcro, the foot of the bed stands for the bed itself. The lectus pavoninus of which Martial speaks (14.85) was inlaid with variegated woods, citrus, &c., of many colours. The bed or mattress (torus) with the pillow (culcita, cervical) rested upon girths (fasciae, institae, restes or funes: Cic. de Div. 2.6. 5, 134; Mart. 5.62; Hor. Epod. 12.12). The two sides of the bed are distinguished by different names: the side at which it was entered was open and called sponda; the other side was protected by a board and called pluteus (Isid. 20.11). There was always a raised head-board at one end; sometimes (as also occasionally in Greek beds) a raised foot-board too. The two sides are also distinguished as torus exterior and torus interior or sponda exterior and sponda interior (Ov. Amor. 3.14, 32; Hor. Epod. 3.22; Suet. Jul. 49). The ordinary stuffing (tomentum) of the mattresses and pillows was wool (Plin. Nat.8.192), for cheaper bedding straw or dried reeds (Hor. Sat. 2.3, 117; Mart. 14.160), which had been the old-fashioned material (Plin. Nat.8.193) in less luxurious times. Later feathers were commonly used, especially for pillows; so that pluma is used for the pillow itself (e. g. Juven. 6.88; Propert. iv. or 3.7, 50; Mart. 14.149). Becker wrongly used this passage to show that feather tapestry, like the old Mexican work, was used for casings by the Romans: pluma versicolor is merely a pillow with a striped covering, and the art of the plumarius is not what Becker imagined (see Göll's note on Gallus, 3.339; Blümner, Techn. 1.210; and the article PLUMARIUS). As a special luxury, Heliogabalus had pillows made of the soft plumage under the partridge's wing. The blankets or counterpanes (vestes stragulae) were in rich houses of costly make, dyed purple, and embroidered in gold. These gold-embroidered coverlets were called Attalicae vestes, Attalica peripetasmata, being, as Pliny (Plin. Nat.8.196) says, first used by Attalus. Hence in Propert. 3.5, 5, Attalicus torus is used for a bed so covered. The name stragula belongs both to the blanket on which the occupant lay as well as that which covered him, but the latter was strictly called opertorium (Sen. Ep. 87, 2).

2. The lectus tricliniaris (for the use and arrangement of which, see CENAand TRICLINIUM) was in most points like the lectus cubicularis. It was, however, lower, as may be gathered from the use of scandere, &c. applied to the latter (see also Serv. ad Aen. 4.685). It had also, at least in most cases, a pluteus, as may be seen from Suet. Cal. 26; Propert. iv. (or v.) 8, 68: and this appears also in drawings. At one end only there was a raised ledge on which a cushion was placed, and on this the left arm rested. Among the Romans it held three persons; among the Greeks, two. Like the bed, it had a mattress (torus), over which coverlets of fine stuffs, Tyriae vestes, &c., were thrown. The toral was a sort of valance from the torus to the ground (Becker-Göll, 2.343). Some have thought that the aulaea (Hor. Sat. 2.8, 54; Od. 3.29, 14; Verg. A. 1.697) were a canopy over the lectus, and so Göll maintains; but it is better with Marquardt to take them as wall-hangings, in no way part of the lectus (see AULAEA). For pictures of the lectus tricliniaris, see CENA

3. The lectus genialis was the marriage couch to which the newly-married were led by the pronuba. It was placed in the atrium opposite the door, and hence was called lectus adversus (Prop. 5.11, 85; Laberius, ap. Gell. 16.9). When a new marriage took place, it was again prepared (stratus, Cic. Clu. 5, 14: cf. Hor. Ep. 1.1, 87; Arnob. 2.67; Juven. 10.333). Till that time it remained unoccupied in the atrium: by it in old and simple times sat the mistress of the house, spinning and superintending household work. Lucretia nebat: ante torum calathi lanaque mollis erat (Ov. Fast. 2.739; cf. Ascon. ad Cic. Mil. 5, 13). The lectus genialis was higher than the ordinary bed, and ascended by steps, gradibus acclivis eburnis, Lucan (Luc. 2.356. (Qua simplici scansione scandebant in lectum non altum scabellum, in altiorem scamnum: duplicata scansio gradus dicitur, Varro, L. L. 5.168.)

4. The lectus lucubratorius, often simply lectus or lectulus, and in Suet. Aug. 78lectica lucubratoria, a reading couch smaller and no doubt usually simpler than the bed, but otherwise of much the same construction.

Here the Roman of literary habits spent much of his day, especially in the morning, reading and writing: to this, not to sleep, Horace's ad quartam jaceo refers, and the lectulus is his place of meditation (Sat. 1.4, 133). Suetonius (l. c.) tells us that Augustus was in the habit of going to his reading couch after dinner: see also Pliny the younger's account of Spurinna (Ep. 3.1), and of his uncle's habits (Ep. 3.5) and the description in Ep. 5.5, jacere in lectulo suo compositus in habitum studentis, habere ante se scrinium. The habitus studentis was the reclining posture on the left arm, using the right for writing or holding the book: cf. Ov. Tr. 1.11, 37; Sen. Ep. 72; Pers. 1.52.

5. Lectus funebris, also but less frequently lectica, and in Corn. Nep. Att. 22lecticula (cf. Tac. Hist. 3.67), sometimes in poets feretrum, the couch or bier on which the dead were borne. They were sometimes elaborately ornamented. Dio Cassius (Dio Cass. 56.34) thus describes the bier of Augustus: κλίνη ἦν ἔκ τε ἐλέφαντος καὶ χρυσοῦ πεποιημένη καὶ στρώμασιν ἁλουργοῖς διαχρύσοις (i. e. Attalicis vestibus) κεκοσμημένη. For other particulars, see article FUNUSand Becker-Göll, Gallus, 3.508. Representations of lecti funebres have been found on several sepulchral monuments. The following woodcut represents one taken from a tombstone.

[L.S] [G.E.M]

Lectus

(λέκτρον). (1) A bed to sleep upon was called Lectus Cubiculāris (Div. ii. 65). The ancient bedsteads were of considerable height, requiring a footstool (scamnum), or a set of steps (gradus) to get into them; and were made like our largest-sized sofas, with a head-board (anaclinterium), sometimes a corresponding one against the feet, and a high back (pluteus) on the farther side, but entirely open on the one at which the occupants entered (sponda). The frame was strung with girths (fasciae, restes, institae), which supported a thick mattress (torus, culcita), on which were placed a bolster and pillow (cubital, cervical).

A bed inferior in size and in materials was called by the diminutive name Lectŭlus or Lecticŭla, which also denoted a sofa, forming part of the usual furniture in a study (Pliny , Pliny Ep. v. 5, 5; Ovid, Trist. i. 11, 39), and on which it was a common practice to recline at length while reading, and even writing, the tablet being placed against one knee, which was raised up as a support for the purpose.

The lectus was also used instead of seats in dining-rooms, the guests reclining at table. The usual number of couches at a table was three— summus, medius, and imus. For a full treatment of the table-arrangements, see triclinium.

(2) Lectus Geniālis or Iugālis, denotes the marriage-bed (εὐνή), to which the wife was conducted on the eve of her marriage by the pronuba, after she had retired from the bridal feast. (See matrimonium.) It was a large bed, handsomely decorated, and raised to a very great height from the ground, as is indicated by the flight of steps at the foot in the illustration given in the article gradus, p. 744, which represents the lectus genialis of Dido, in the Vatican Vergil.

(3) Lectus Funēbris is the name of the bier upon which dead bodies were carried out to the funeral pile, or to their place of sepulture, as shown by the annexed illustration from an ancient tombstone.