Ancient Rome
The Ancient Romans had various kinds of beds for
repose. These included the following,
- lectus cubicularis, or chamber bed, for normal sleeping;
- lectus discubitorius, or table bed, on which they ate—for
they ate while lying on their left side—there being usually three people
to one bed, with the middle place accounting the most honorable
position;
- lectus lucubratorius, for studying;
- and a lectus funebris, or emortualis, on which the
dead were carried to the pile.
Bed sizes
 Most countries have a standard set of four sizes of mattress. While the
Double size appears to be standard among English speaking
countries, based on the imperial measurement of 4 feet 6 inches 6 by
6 feet 3 inches, the sizes for other bed types tend to vary. The European
sizes differ; they are based on the metric system.
A king-sized bed differs from the other sizes in implementation, as it
is not common to have a king-sized box spring; rather, two smaller
box-springs are used under a king-sized mattress. On a U.S. Standard
or "Eastern" King, the box springs are identical in size to a
Twin Extra-Long.
Historical Trivia
In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes.
When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer
to sleep on. Hence the phrase........ "goodnight, sleep tight."
Pictured to the right: reproduction of a colonial-era bed.
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