I.an inner room, chamber, apartment (poet.).
I. Lit
A. In gen.: “Pars secreta domus ... Tres habuit thalamos, quorum tu, Pandrose, dextrum, Aglauros laevum, medium possederat Herse,” Ov. M. 2, 738: “ferreique Eumenidum thalami,” Verg. A. 6, 280; cf.: “delubra ei gemina, quae vocant thalamos,” Plin. 8, 46, 71, § 185; “and of bees: ubi jam thalamis se conposuere,” Verg. G. 4, 189.—
B. Esp., a sleeping-room, bedchamber (cf.: “cubiculum, dormitorium, cubile),” Verg. A. 6, 623; Ov. M. 10, 456; id. H. 12, 57 al.; cf. Vitr. 6, 10.—
II. Transf.
A. A marriage - bed, bridal-bed (cf.: “lectus, conjugium, conubium),” Prop. 2, 15 (3, 7), 14; 3, 7 (4, 6), 49; Petr. 26.—Hence,
B. Transf., marriage, wedlock (very freq. both in sing. and plur.); sing.: “thalami expers vitam Degere,” Verg. A. 4, 550; cf.: “si non pertaesum thalami taedaeque fuisset,” id. ib. 4, 18: “quantum in conubio natae thalamoque moratur,” id. ib. 7, 253; so id. ib. 7, 388; 9, 594; Ov. M. 3, 267; 10, 571; Stat. Th. 5, 463 al. — Plur.: “thalamos ne desere pactos,” Verg. A. 10, 649; Ov M. 1, 658; 7, 22; 12, 193; id. Am. 1, 8, 19; id. F. 3, 689; Hor. C. 1, 15, 16; Mart. 10, 63, 7; Sen. Agam. 256; 992; Val. Fl. 1, 226.