When the gemara in maseches "Yivamos" writes that Rabbi Yishmael was "walking over the heads of The Holy Nation", is it clear that the people who were listening to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi's shiur were actually sitting on the ground and Rabbi Yishmael had to walk over their heads in a more literal sense, or were they seated on benches and it would have appeared that he had walked by their heads? If it is clear in what manner the talmidim were seated, please provide a source (sources).
Kol tuv and Good Shabbos,
Rovvy
Hello there and thanks for your question. I guess it seems strange to you that they would be sitting on the floor but we do find references that show exactly that. In Sanhedrin 17b it mentions that Shimon ha'Timni sat on the ground in front of a Beis Din. The Gemara in Bava Metzia 84b relates that originally Rebbi and Rebbi Elazar b'Rebbi Shimon sat on the ground in front of two Tana'im, before they were elevated to sit on benches. It is thus clear that it was the practice to have the Talmidim sit on the floor.
All the best.
Y. Landy