The Last Supper: Eating on Couches?

Many misunderstandings about the gospel accounts of the Last Supper stem from particular ideas about the setup of the meal. Leonardo da Vinci's painting, while technically brilliant, portrays a false rendering of the scene. In the painting, Jesus sits in the middle of His disciples while they speak privately to each other or lean forward to speak with Him. Although this image has become widely known, the event would not have taken place in this fashion.

During that time in Israel—and especially for special ceremonies like the Passover meal—Jesus and the disciples would have eaten at a triclinium. While most of us sit in chairs to eat, they would have reclined on couches organized in a U-shape around a table in the center. The participants would have leaned on their left arm with their feet extended behind them. With everyone in the same position around the table, one person could easily lean back and speak privately with the person behind or even lean against another's chest (an act of affection in the East).

This arrangement makes sense of the events that happened during the dinner. With their legs extended out from the table, Jesus would have had easy access to wash the disciples' feet and to teach them about true service. Also, John, who was likely to the right of Jesus, would have been privy to some of the conversation that the other disciples did not hear.

Adapted and updated from The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah by Alfred Edersheim (Book V, Chapter X).

Originally published April 16, 2010.