Talk:Lectisternium

Clarification needed

Is it the couches that are covered with drapery, or the representations of the gods? Are the gods clothed in the drapery or is it thrown on them like a blanket? Cerulean Depths (talk) 16:35, 9 December 2022 (UTC)

• The couches are covered with drapery and cushions, in preparation for the feast, and the images of the gods are laid on the already-draped couch for the feast. Whether or not the images of the gods are draped is hard to say; but I'd say it's unlikely. Images of the gods were generally well tended and as far as I can tell would have been "appropriately dressed" whatever the occasion, as would a citizen at a formal "do" or banquet. The primary sources are not mutually consistent or clear about it, and those used for this article are pretty ancient. I've added a slightly less ancient relevant work by L. R. Taylor, which covers both the Lectisternium and the Sellisternium, up to a point (she'd have used the exact same sources). Haploidavey (talk) 17:58, 9 December 2022 (UTC)

  I've added the clarification to the lede. Please let me know if I have misunderstood you. Cerulean Depths (talk) 18:42, 9 December 2022 (UTC)

You've not misunderstood, @Cerulean Depths; I've merely added a couple of nuanced variations. It's rather wooly material, and difficult to deal with in anything like a satisfactory way. The lectisternium was an essential ground-level element in Roman Imperial cult, in private household cult, public games and the Compitalia above all, despite all the hoo-ha about there being virtually no sanctioned Imperial cult practises in Rome itself. And of course in Byzantine imperial ceremony, the pulvinar at the Hippodrome is part of the imperial palace.

Anyway, very nice to meet you, and thanks for the very good question! Haploidavey (talk) 19:23, 9 December 2022 (UTC)

Awesome work, it is much easier to visualize now. Cerulean Depths (talk) 19:40, 9 December 2022 (UTC)