Architriclinus
Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary [1]
αρχιτρικλινος , generally translated steward, signifies rather the master or superintendent of the feast; "one," says Gaudentius, "who is the husband's friend, and commissioned to conduct the order and economy of the feast." He gave directions to the servants, superintended every thing, commanded the tables to be covered, or to be cleared of the dishes, as he thought proper: whence his name, as regulator of the triclinium, or festive board. He also tasted the wine, and distributed it to the guests. The author of Ecclesiasticus thus describes this office, Sir_32:1-2 : "If thou be made the master of a feast, lift not thyself up, but be among them as one of the rest: take diligent care of them, and so sit down. And when thou hast done all thy office, take thy place, that thou mayest be merry with them, and receive a crown for the well ordering of the feast." This office is mentioned, John 2:8-9 , upon which Theophylact remarks: "That no one might suspect that their taste was vitiated by having drunk to excess, so as not to know water from wine, our Saviour orders it to be first carried to the governor of the feast, who certainly was sober; for those who on such occasions are intrusted with this office, observe the strictest sobriety, that they may be able properly to regulate the whole."
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [2]
(Ἀρχιτρίκλινος , master of the triclinium or dinner-bed, (See Accubation) ), rendered in John 2:8-9, "governor of the feast" (q.v.), equivalent to the Roman Magister Convivii. The Greeks also denoted the same social office by the title of Symposiarch (συμποσίρχος ). He was not the giver of the feast, but one of the guests specially chosen to direct the entertainment, and promote harmony and good fellowship among the company. (See Potter's Gr. Ant. 2, 386.) In the apocryphal Ecclesiasticus (35:1, 2) the duties of this officer among the Jews are indicated. He is there, however, called ἡγούμενος : "If thou be made the master [of a feast], lift not thyself up, but be among them as one of the rest; take diligent care for them, and so sit down; and when thou hast done all thy office, take thy place, that thou mayest be merry with them, and receive a crown for thy well ordering of the feast." (See Walch, De Architriclinio, Jen. 1753; Brendel, De loco Joh. Eisenb. 1785.) (See Banquet).
