The guests at a Greek dinner-party reclined on the left elbow on couches which normally held two. Only women sat on chairs to dine, and respectable women would not be present at a party. The food was served on small movable tables. The place of honour was the left-hand place on the couch furthest to the left, and the right-hand couch would be occupied by the host. Agathon is alone at this till he is joined by Socrates on his right. When Alcibiades appears later and finds no room he reclines between them. The order in which these three are placed (Agathon - Alcibiades - Socrates) is of importance to the understanding of the final scene of the dialogue.