Client benches.

This is the entrance to an atrium house in Herculaneum. Notice the bench where clients would wait in the morning.

I am quite sure that I have mentioned the client patronus system before, but I will give a quick walkthrough again.

Rich members of society were normally connected to equals by a friendship status (amicita-ae) while the lower classes could become clients of a patronus. This system was a way to help each other, the clients could ask their patronus for a service (food, money, help in court etc). The patronus would in turn expect their votes in elections, being followed by them on the way to the forum (more clients would mean more power) and could ask them to perform labor for him. A critical part of this system was the salutation where clients would come to salute their patron in the morning.