A semicircular or rectangular recess, often in ancient Roman architecture, containing benches or used as a gathering space; an outdoor sitting area.
From Latin exhedra, derived from Greek exedra (ex- 'outside' + hedra 'seat'). The term referred to garden rooms in Hellenistic and Roman houses.
Roman villas had exhedrae where people would sit outside to discuss philosophy or politics—they're basically ancient outdoor living rooms that preceded our modern patios by 2,000 years!
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