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Monopodium

1st century A.D.
Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli e Pompei
Inv. 20511

 

This type of table was introduced into Rome in the 2nd century B.C. after the conquest of Greece, along with other luxurious articles of furniture such as triclinium couches. It was placed in the reception room of the house.

APPROFONDIMENTI

The dining room

Participating in the banquet, held in the triclinium, were three to nine diners, who occupied three couches arranged in the form of a horseshoe: the summus, the medius and the imus. The highest-ranking guest was given the place at the lower end of the medius, called the locus praetorius, while the host occupied the first place on the imus. The arrangement of the tables depended on that of the couches; if they were pushed together, the table was in the middle; if separated, there was a larger central table and two smaller ones beside the couches.