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92-505: The motif consists of an empty throne and various other symbolic objects, in later depictions surrounded when space allows by angels paying homage. It is usually placed centrally in schemes of composition, very often in a roundel , but typically is not the largest element in a scheme of decoration. The "empty throne" had a long pre-Christian history. An Assyrian relief in Berlin of c. 1243 BCE shows King Tukulti-Ninurta I kneeling before

184-509: A parasol or Bodhi Tree , from before the time of Christ. This was, in the traditional view, an aniconic symbol for the Buddha; they avoided depicting the Buddha in human form, like early Christians with God the Father . Alternatively, it has been argued that these images represent actual relic-thrones at the major pilgrimage sites which were objects of worship. The throne often contains

276-490: A pulvinar , from pulvinus ("cushion"), and many temples held these; at the banquets statues of the deity were placed on them. There was a pulvinar at the Circus Maximus , on which initially statues and attributes of the gods were placed after a procession during games, but Augustus also occupied it himself (possibly copying Julius Caesar ), building a temple-like structure in the seating to house it. Thrones with

368-590: A "bema" or empty throne represented the prophet Mani at a meal for worshippers. In the Balinese version of Hinduism , the most prominent element in most temples is the padmasana or "Lotus Throne", an empty throne for the supreme deity Acintya . In the Ashanti Empire , the Golden Stool was used as a symbol of authority for the kings. It was considered so sacred that it was not allowed to touch

460-501: A basilica was secular public hall. Thus, the term basilica may also refer to a church designed after the manner of the ancient Roman basilica. Many of the churches built by the emperor Constantine the Great and Justinian are of the basilica style. Some other prelates besides bishops are permitted the use of thrones, such as abbots and abbesses . These are often simpler than the thrones used by bishops and there may be restrictions on

552-458: A cloth variously interpreted as Christ's mantle (especially when of imperial purple) or a sudarium may cover or sit on the throne. There may be a crown on the throne. There is often a book, often on the cushion and sometimes open; this represents the gospels in some examples, and in others the Book of Life , always closed and distinguished by its seven seals, following the Book of Apocalypse . There

644-572: A dedicated throne hall, the Magnaura , included elaborate automatons of singing birds and moving animals. The 10th-century throne of Ivan "the Terrible" (r. 1533-1584), dating from the mid-16th century, it is a product of West European Renaissance . It is shaped as a high-backed chair with arm rests, and adorned with ivory and walrus bone plaques intricately carved with mythological, heraldic and life scenes. Some carvings, depicting scenes from

736-606: A derivation from the PIE root *dher- "to support" (also in dharma "post, sacrificial pole"). Early Greek Διὸς θρόνους ( Dios thronous ) was a term for the "support of the heavens", i.e. the axis mundi , which term when Zeus became an anthropomorphic god was imagined as the "seat of Zeus". In Ancient Greek, a "thronos" was a specific but ordinary type of chair with a footstool , a high status object but not necessarily with any connotations of power. The Achaeans (according to Homer ) were known to place additional, empty thrones in

828-658: A great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away" ( Revelation 20:11 ). The Apostle Paul speaks of " thrones " in Colossians 1:16 . Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite , in his work De Coelesti Hierarchia (VI.7), interprets this as referring to one of the ranks of angels (corresponding to the Hebrew Arelim or Ophanim ). This concept was expanded upon by Thomas Aquinas in his Summa Theologica (I.108), wherein

920-490: A helmet on it represents Mars . Commodus chose to be represented by a seat with the club and lion skin of Hercules , with whom he identified himself. The empty throne continued to be used as a secular symbol of power by the first Christian Emperors, and appears on the Arch of Constantine . Later non-Christian uses of the empty throne motif include the "Bema Feast", the most important annual feast of Persian Manichaeism , when

1012-574: A jewelled wreath, portrait or sceptre and diadem sitting on them were among the symbols used in the Roman law courts and elsewhere to represent the authority of the absent emperor; this was one of the monarchical attributes awarded by the Roman Senate to Julius Caesar. A seat with jewelled wreath is seen on coins from the Emperor Titus onwards, and on those of Diocletian a seat with

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1104-654: A number of different passages from the Bible. For the later Byzantines the etimasia was the "sign of the Son of man " of Matthew 24:30: "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory". The understanding of the image as a symbol for the Second Coming also drew on Psalms 9:7: "But

1196-505: A number of throne chairs empty. Many of these thrones—such as China's Dragon Throne —survive today as historic examples of nation's previous government. Thrones were found throughout the canon of ancient furniture . The depiction of monarchs and deities as seated on chairs is a common topos in the iconography of the Ancient Near East . The word throne itself is from Greek θρόνος ( thronos ), "seat, chair", in origin

1288-471: A person holding the title King , Queen , Emperor , or Empress sits in a nation using a monarchy political system, although there are a few exceptions, notably with regards to religious officials such as the pope and bishops of various sects of the Christian faith. Changing geo-political tides have resulted in the collapse of several dictatorial and autocratic governments, which in turn have left

1380-691: A search for it be conducted. This provoked an armed rebellion known as the War of the Golden Stool , which resulted in the annexation of Ashanti to the British Empire, but preserved the sanctity of the Golden Stool. In 1921, African road workers discovered the stool and stripped some of the gold ornaments. They were taken into protective custody by the British, before being tried according to local custom and sentenced to death. The British intervened and

1472-646: A seven-stepped dais with a proscenium arch above and the symbol of the imperial family behind (the two-headed eagle ). Peter I's Room (the "Smaller Throne Room") is modest in comparison to the former. The throne was made for Empress Anna Ivanovna in London. There is also a throne in the Grand Throne Room of the Peterhof Palace . In some countries with a monarchy, thrones are still used and have important symbolic and ceremonial meaning. Among

1564-755: A standard feature of the evolving subject of the Last Judgement , found from the 11th century onwards. As in the Western versions descended from the Byzantine images, this was on several tiers, with Christ in Judgement at the top, and in the East the etimasia almost always in the centre of the tier below, but occasionally above Christ. This basic layout has remained in use in Eastern Orthodoxy to

1656-512: A symbol such as the dharma wheel or Buddha footprint , as well as a cushion. Like the Greeks and other ancient peoples, the Romans held ritual banquets for the gods (a ritualized " theoxenia "), including the annual Epulum Jovis , and the lectisternium , originally a rare event in times of crisis, first held in 399 BCE according to Livy , but later much more common. A seat for these was called

1748-425: A symbolic chair with little or no precious materials incorporated into the design. When used in a religious sense, throne can refer to one of two distinct uses. The first use derives from the practice in churches of having a bishop or higher-ranking religious official ( archbishop , pope , etc.) sit on a special chair which in church referred to by written sources as a "throne", or “cathedra” (Latin for 'chair') and

1840-451: A toilet is often jokingly referred to as "a throne" (namely, the "porcelain throne"). Golden Stool The Golden Stool ( Ashanti - Twi : Sika dwa ; full title, Sika Dwa Kofi "the Golden Stool born on a Friday") is the royal and divine throne of kings of the Asante people and the ultimate symbol of power in Asante . According to legend, Okomfo Anokye , High Priest and one of

1932-500: A trinitarian etimasia with the dove representing the Holy Spirit may be found, as in the 12th century mosaics on the roof of the west dome of St Mark's, Venice , where the centre is an etimasia with book and dove, with the twelve apostles seated round the outer rims, with flames on their heads and rays connecting them to the central throne. Below the apostles pairs of figures representing the "nations", with tituli , stand between

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2024-525: A wide variety of thrones that have been used by given heads of state. These have ranged from stools in places such as in Africa to ornate chairs and bench-like designs in Europe and Asia, respectively. Often, but not always, a throne is tied to a philosophical or religious ideology held by the nation or people in question, which serves a dual role in unifying the people under the reigning monarch and connecting

2116-996: Is always adorned with the pattern and motif of the Vietnamese dragon , which is the exclusive and privileged symbol of the Vietnamese emperors. The last existing imperial throne in Vietnam is the throne of the Nguyễn emperors placed in the Hall of Supreme Harmony at the Imperial City of Huế . It is designated as a national treasure of Vietnam . In Vietnamese folk religion , the gods, deities and ancestral spirits are believed to seat figuratively on thrones at places of worship. Therefore, on Vietnamese altars, there are various types of liturgical "throne" often decorated with red paint and golden gilding. The Phoenix Throne (御座/어좌 eojwa )

2208-421: Is described in 1 Kings 10:18–20 : "Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold.. The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays. And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom." In

2300-550: Is found above all in the Book of Revelation , especially chapter 4, although the throne therein is already occupied. The Greek verb ἑτοιμασεν ("hetoimasen") means "to prepare" or "to make ready". It will be seen that the name "hetoimasia", meaning "preparation" or "that which has been prepared", with "throne" ("thronos" in Greek) only implied, is more appropriate to the Eastern images after about 1000 than to those before. The use of

2392-473: Is in German - see the list given here . Throne A throne is the seat of state of a potentate or dignitary , especially the seat occupied by a sovereign (or viceroy ) on state occasions; or the seat occupied by a pope or bishop on ceremonial occasions. "Throne" in an abstract sense can also refer to the monarchy itself, an instance of metonymy , and is also used in many expressions such as "

2484-416: Is intended to allow such high-ranking religious officials a place to sit in their place of worship. The other use for throne refers to a belief among many of the world's monotheistic and polytheistic religions that the deity or deities that they worship are seated on a throne. Such beliefs go back to ancient times, and can be seen in surviving artwork and texts which discuss the idea of ancient gods (such as

2576-469: Is nearly always a cross (except in images of councils), often a crux gemmata , and in later examples a patriarchal cross with two crossbars. The cloth may be draped round the cross, as may the crown of thorns , which first appears as an isolated motif in this context. This seems to have originated as a victor's wreath around or over the cross, part of the early emphasis on "Christ as Victor" found in much cross imagery, but later to have been transmuted into

2668-466: Is placed against a wall so that other souls passing by may relax on it. The Golden Stool is the royal throne and must never touch the ground; instead it is placed on a blanket. During inauguration, a new king is raised and lowered over the stool without touching it. The Golden Stool is carried to the king on a pillow, as only the Asantehene himself is allowed to handle it. During solemn occasions,

2760-563: Is placed in the basilica for the pope's use whenever he presides over a liturgical ceremony. Prior to the liturgical reforms that occurred in the wake of the Second Vatican Council , a huge removable canopied throne was placed above an equally removable dais in the choir side of the "Altar of the Confession" (the high altar above the tomb of St Peter and beneath the monumental bronze baldachin ); this throne stood between

2852-455: Is the bishop's throne from which the cathedral takes its name, which, unless the bishop happens to be present and sitting in it, functions as a permanent reminder of his authority in his diocese . In the earlier versions the throne is most often accompanied by a cross and a scroll or book, which at this stage represents the Gospels. In this form the whole image represents Christ, but when

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2944-625: Is the term used to identify the throne of the king of Korea . In an abstract sense, the Phoenix Throne also refers rhetorically to the head of state of the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897) and the Empire of Korea (1897–1910). The throne is located at Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul. The Chrysanthemum Throne ( 皇位 , kōi , lit. "Imperial position/rank") is the term used to identify the throne of

3036-410: Is thus always elevated. The expression "ascend (mount) the throne" takes its meaning from the steps leading up to the dais or platform, on which the throne is placed, being formerly comprised in the word's significance. Coats of arms or insignia can feature on throne or canopy and represent the dynasty . Even in the physical absence of the ruler an empty throne can symbolise the everlasting presence of

3128-611: The Achaemenid era to the last Iranian dynasty Pahlavi , the throne was used for sitting shahs . The word "throne" in English translations of the Bible renders Hebrew כסא kissē' . The pharaoh of the Exodus is described as sitting on a throne (Exodus 11:5, 12:29), but mostly the term refers to the throne of the kingdom of Israel , often called the "throne of David " or "throne of Solomon ". The literal throne of Solomon

3220-651: The Agra Fort . The Peacock Throne was the seat of the Mughal emperors of India. It was commissioned in the early 17th century by Emperor Shah Jahan and was located in the Red Fort of Delhi. The original throne was subsequently captured and taken as a war trophy in 1739 by the Persian king Nadir Shah and has been lost ever since. A replacement throne based on the original was commissioned afterwards and existed until

3312-588: The Book of Esther (5:3), the same word refers to the throne of the king of Persia. The God of Israel himself is frequently described as sitting on a throne, referred to outside of the Bible as the Throne of God , in the Psalms , and in a vision Isaiah (6:1), and notably in Isaiah 66:1, YHWH says of himself "The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool" (this verse is alluded to by Matthew 5:34-35). In

3404-593: The Indian Rebellion of 1857 . Maharaja Ranjit Singh's throne was made by the goldsmith Hafez Muhammad Multani about 1820 to 1830. Made of wood and resin core, covered with sheets of repoussé, chased and engraved gold. The Golden Throne or Chinnada Simhasana or Ratna Simahasana in Kannada is the royal seat of the rulers of the Kingdom of Mysore . The Golden Throne is kept at Mysore Palace. In Burma,

3496-451: The Indian subcontinent , the traditional Sanskrit name for the throne was siṃhāsana (lit., seat of a lion). In the Mughal times the throne was called Shāhī takht ( [ˈʃaːhiː ˈtəxt] ). The term gadi or gaddi ( Hindustani pronunciation: [ˈɡəd̪ːi] , also called rājgaddī ) referred to a seat with a cushion used as a throne by Indian princes. That term was usually used for

3588-591: The Old Testament , Book of Kings I explicits the throne of Solomon: "Then the king made a great throne covered with ivory and overlaid with fine gold. The throne had six steps, and its back had a rounded top. On both sides of the seat were armrests, with a lion standing beside each of them. Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step" in Chapter 10 18-20. In the New Testament ,

3680-623: The Roman Catholic Church , the pope is an elected monarch , both under canon law as supreme head of the church , and under international law as the head of state —styled "sovereign pontiff"—of the Vatican City State (the sovereign state within the city of Rome established by the 1929 Lateran Treaty ). Until 1870, the pope was the elected monarch of the Papal States , which for centuries constituted one of

3772-575: The Sedia di San Marco , was moved from the high altar to the Treasury of San Marco, Venice in 1534. It would only fit a bishop with a slight figure, and has a large compartment for relics below the seat. It may have functioned as a "throne-lectern" or resting place for a gospel book , making actual the hetoimasia images with open books. During the Middle Byzantine period the etimasia became

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3864-524: The Twelve Olympians ) seated on thrones. In the major Abrahamic religions of Judaism , Christianity , and Islam , the Throne of Yahweh is attested to in religious scriptures and teachings, although the origin, nature, and idea of the Throne of Yahweh in these religions differs according to the given religious ideology practiced. In the west, a throne is most identified as the seat upon which

3956-756: The emperor of Japan . The term also can refer to very specific seating, such as the takamikura (高御座) throne in the Shishin-den at Kyoto Imperial Palace . The throne of the Ryukyu Kingdom is located in Shuri Castle , Naha. During the Russian Empire , the throne in St. George's Hall (the "Greater Throne Room") in the Winter Palace was regarded as the throne of Russia. It sits atop

4048-618: The ivory Throne of Maximian in Ravenna , probably a gift from the Eastern Emperor Justinian I , was not made as a throne for personal use by Maximian , who was both Archbishop of Ravenna and the viceroy of the Byzantine territories in North Italy, but as an empty throne to symbolize either the imperial or divine power; Byzantine imagery at this period was sometimes ready to conflate the two. A comparable symbol

4140-580: The "Altar of the Chair" lies the Cathedra Petri , a throne believed to have been used by St Peter himself and other earlier popes; this relic is enclosed in a gilt bronze casting and forms part of a huge monument designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini . Unlike at his cathedral (Archbasilica of St. John Lateran), there is no permanent cathedra for the pope in St Peter's Basilica, so a removable throne

4232-634: The 12th century mosaics in Torcello Cathedral , the paintings in the Chora Church , and the painted church exterior at Voroneţ Monastery in Romania of 1547. The image was one of many aspects of imperial iconography taken up by Early Christians after the Edict of Milan in 313, when the depiction of Jesus as a human figure, especially as a large figure detached from narrative contexts,

4324-430: The Byzantine court, such as a pair of lions seated at the foot of the throne. The term "throne" is often used in reference to patriarchs to designate their ecclesiastical authority; for instance, "the Ecumenical Throne" refers to the authority of the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople . Western bishops may also use a faldstool to fulfill the liturgical purpose of the cathedra when not in their own cathedral. In

4416-471: The Golden Stool is made of pure gold, stools are often made from wood. Each stool is made from a single block of the wood of Alstonia boonei (a tall forest tree with numinous associations) and carved with a crescent-shaped seat, flat base and complex support structure. The many designs and symbolic meanings mean that every stool is unique; each has a different meaning for the person whose soul it seats. Some designs contain animal shapes or images that recall

4508-431: The Golden Stool is placed on the king's left on a throne of its own, the hwedom dwa ( Asante , throne facing the crowd ). Many wars have broken out over the ownership of the royal throne. In 1896, Asantehene Prempeh I was deported rather than risk losing both the war and the throne. In 1900, Sir Frederick Hodgson , the Governor of the Gold Coast , demanded to be allowed to sit on the Golden Stool, and ordered that

4600-454: The Lord shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment". where the Septuagint has "ἡτοίμασεν" ("hetoimasen") for "prepared". Psalm 89:14:"Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face" is another relevant passage, using the word in the Septuagint (instead of the "habitation" of the King James Version ), giving "ἑτοιμασία τοῦ θρόνου" or "preparation of your throne". Throne imagery

4692-405: The Pali term sammakhaṇḍa . The Dragon Throne is the term used to identify the throne of the emperor of China . As the dragon was the emblem of divine imperial power, the throne of the emperor, who was considered a living god , was known as the Dragon Throne. The term can refer to very specific seating, as in the special seating in various structures in the Forbidden City of Beijing or in

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4784-480: The angel Gabriel also refers to this throne in the Gospel of Luke ( 1:32–33 ): "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." Jesus promised his apostles that they would sit upon "twelve thrones", judging the twelve tribes of Israel ( Matthew 19:28 ). John 's Revelation states: "And I saw

4876-401: The apse and the Altar of the Confession. This practice has fallen out of use with the 1960s and 1970s reform of Papal liturgy and, whenever the pope celebrates Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, a simpler portable throne is now placed on platform in front of the Altar of the Confession. Whenever Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the Liturgy of the Hours at St Peter's, a more elaborate removable throne

4968-404: The biblical account of King David 's life, are of particular relevance, as David was seen as the ideal for Christian monarchs. Although medieval examples tended to be retained in the early modern period , having acquired the aura of tradition, when new thrones were made they either continued medieval styles or were just very grand and elaborate versions of contemporary chairs or armchairs. In

5060-427: The bishop's authority to teach the faith (hence the expression " ex cathedra ") and to govern his flock. Ex cathedra refers to the explicative authority, notably the extremely rarely used procedure required for a papal declaration to be ' infallible ' under Roman Catholic canon law . In several languages the word deriving from cathedra is commonly used for an academic teaching mandate, the professorial chair. From

5152-419: The canopy over the newly elected pope. This was the new pope's first throne. This tradition was dramatically portrayed in the 1968 film The Shoes of the Fisherman . In European feudal countries, monarchs often were seated on thrones, based in all likelihood on the Roman magisterial chair . These thrones were originally quite simple, especially when compared to their Asian counterparts. In practice, any chair

5244-488: The centre of the apse-side (west-facing) of the triumphal arch. All are central positions, prominent but not dominant. The Baptistry of Neon (late 5th century) in Ravenna is exceptional in using repeated hetoimasia images in a circular dome frieze of eight images, four each of two types appearing alternately: a hetoimasia with cross in a garden and an altar containing an open book, flanked by two chairs. The 6th-century "throne-reliquary" in rather crudely carved alabaster ,

5336-445: The character of its ornamentation. The liturgical color of the canopy should correspond with that of the other vestments. When ruling monarchs attend services, they are also allowed to be seated on a throne that is covered by a canopy, but their seats must be outside the sanctuary. In the Greek Orthodox Church , the bishop's throne will often combine features of the monastic choir stall ( kathisma ) with appurtenances inherited from

5428-523: The crown of thorns. It has also been suggested that the wreathed cross motif also was the origin of the Celtic cross . The dove of the Holy Spirit may be present. In later versions two of the instruments of the Passion , the Spear and sponge on a stick, stand behind or beside the throne, or are held by angels. The nails from the cross and crown of thorns may sit on the throne, as in the Russian icon illustrated. If angels or archangels are included they are symmetrically placed on either side, either facing

5520-401: The dove of the Holy Spirit and the cross are seen, the throne appears to represent God the Father, and the whole image the Trinity , a subject that Christian art did not represent directly for several centuries, as showing the Father as a human figure was objectionable. An example of a Trinitarian hetoimasia is in the Church of the Dormition in Nicaea . From about 1000 the image may bear

5612-428: The earliest surviving Christian hetoimasia is in the earliest major scheme of church decoration to survive, the mosaics in Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome (432-40), where it occupies the narrow centre of the "triumphal arch" separating nave and apse , flanked by angels, a typical placement. It is shown, with a procession of Apostles, on a panel of the Pola ivory casket from Istria . Three now displaced stone reliefs of

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5704-399: The empty throne of the fire-god Nusku , occupied by what appears to be a flame. The Hittites put thrones in important shrines for the spirit of the dead person to occupy, and the Etruscans left an empty seat at the head of the table at religious feasts for the god to join the company. A somewhat controversial theory, held by many specialists, sees the Israelite Ark of the Covenant , or

5796-448: The end of his pontificate, Pope John Paul II had a specially constructed throne on wheels that could be used inside. Prior to 1978, at the papal conclave , each cardinal was seated on a throne in the Sistine Chapel during the balloting. Each throne had a canopy over it. After a successful election, once the new pope accepted election and decided by what name he would be known, the cardinals would all lower their canopies, leaving only

5888-428: The figures of the cherubim above it, as an empty throne. A throne with a crown upon it had been a symbol for an absent monarch in Ancient Greek culture since at least the time of Alexander the Great , whose deification allowed secular use for what had previously been a symbol for Zeus, where the attribute placed on the throne was a pair of zig-zag thunderbolts. Early Buddhist art used an empty throne, often under

5980-401: The glorified "sign of the Son of man" (see below) at the Last Judgement. The Discovery by Helena had displaced this view as to the fate of the actual cross, but the idea of the return at the Last Judgement of the glorified cross remained, as in a homily by Pope Leo the Great (d. 461), which was incorporated in the Roman Breviary . Although it is assumed that other examples existed earlier,

6072-410: The ground (but only placed on a blanket) or seated on its own throne. There are several elements found in the image which reflect its changing meaning. The throne itself is always present, and is often backless and armless. In Ancient Greek, a "thronos" was a specific but ordinary type of chair with a footstool, and there is very often a footstool in the image. There is often a prominent cushion, and

6164-406: The group was instead banished. An assurance of non-interference with the stool was then given by the British and it was brought out of hiding. In 1935 the stool was used in the ceremony to crown Osei Tutu Agyeman Prempeh II . The Golden Stool is a curved seat 46 cm high with a platform 61 cm wide and 30 cm deep. Its entire surface is inlaid with gold, and hung with bells to warn

6256-400: The king of impending danger. It has not been seen by many and only the king, queen, and trusted advisers know the hiding place. Replicas have been produced for the chiefs and at their funerals are ceremonially blackened with animal blood, a symbol of their power for generations. The stool is one of the main focal points of the Asante today because it still shows succession and power. While

6348-430: The largest political powers on the divided Italian peninsula. To this day, the Holy See maintains officially recognised diplomatic status, and papal nuncios and legates are deputed on diplomatic missions throughout the world. The pope's throne ( Cathedra Romana ) is located in the apse of the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran , his cathedral as Bishop of Rome . In the apse of Saint Peter's Basilica , above

6440-416: The monarch occupied in a formal setting served as a "throne", though there were often special chairs used only for this purpose, kept in places the monarch often went to. Thrones began to be made in pairs, for the king and queen, which remained common in later periods. Sometimes they are identical, or the queen's throne may be slightly less grand. The 10th-century throne of the Byzantine emperor , placed in

6532-418: The monarch upon the throne to his or her predecessors, who sat upon the throne previously. Accordingly, many thrones are typically held to have been constructed or fabricated out of rare or hard to find materials that may be valuable or important to the land in question. Depending on the size of the throne in question it may be large and ornately designed as an emplaced instrument of a nation's power, or it may be

6624-475: The monarchical authority. When used in a political or governmental sense, a throne typically exists in a civilization, nation, tribe, or other politically designated group that is organized or governed under a monarchical system. Throughout much of human history societies have been governed under monarchical systems, in the beginning as autocratic systems and later evolved in most cases as constitutional monarchies within liberal democratic systems, resulting in

6716-422: The most direct heir of pharaonic splendor, and included a pair of flabella (fans made from ostrich feathers) to either side. Pope John Paul I at first abandoned the use of these implements, but later in his brief reign began to use the sedia so that he could be seen more easily by the crowds. The use of the sedia was abandoned by Pope John Paul II in favor of the so-called " popemobile " when outside. Near

6808-812: The most famous thrones still in usage are St Edward's Chair , on which the British monarch is crowned, and the thrones used by monarchs during the state opening of parliaments in the United Kingdom , the Netherlands , Canada , Australia , and Japan (see above) among others. Some republics use distinctive throne-like chairs in some state ceremonial. The president of Ireland sits on a former viceregal throne during his or her inauguration ceremony, while lords mayor and lords provost of many British and Irish cities often preside over local councils from throne-like chairs. Owing to its symbolic nature,

6900-580: The name for both groups was established in the 19th century by the French art historian Paul Durand (from 1867), and despite protests has stuck. In more modern Orthodox contexts "etimasia" and "prepared throne" are typically used, and in art history relating to the earlier group "hetoimasia" and "empty throne" - exclusively the latter in non-Christian contexts where a more specialized term is not used. There are various other transliterations and translations: "hetimasia", "throne made ready" etc. The main literature

6992-496: The palaces of the Old Summer Palace . In an abstract sense, the "Dragon Throne" also refers rhetorically to the head of state and to the monarchy itself. The Daoguang Emperor is said to have referred to his throne as "the divine utensil ." The throne of the emperors of Vietnam are often referred to as ngai vàng ("golden throne") or ngôi báu (大寳/寶座) literally "great precious" (seat/position). The throne

7084-408: The power behind the throne ". A throne is a symbol of divine and secular rule and the establishment of a throne as a defining sign of the claim to power and authority. It can be with a high backrest and feature heraldic animals or other decorations as adornment and as a sign of power and strength. A throne can be placed underneath a canopy or baldachin . The throne can stand on steps or a dais and

7176-644: The presence of this cathedra (throne), which can be as elaborate and precious as fits a secular prince (even if the prelate is not a prince of the church in the secular sense), a bishop's primary church is called a cathedral . In the Roman Catholic Church, a basilica —from the Greek basilikos 'royal'—now refers to the presence there of a papal canopy ( ombrellino ), part of his regalia , and applies mainly to many cathedrals and Catholic churches of similar importance or splendor. In Roman Antiquity

7268-572: The present day, and is found both on church walls and as a painted panel icon. The etimasia was normally omitted in Western versions, except in works under direct Byzantine influence, such as the early 12th century west wall of Torcello Cathedral . Another context in which the etimasia sometimes appears from the Middle Byzantine period is Pentecost , in Orthodoxy also the Feast of the Trinity. Here

7360-537: The royal palaces and temples so that the gods could be seated when they wished to be. The most famous of these thrones was the throne of Apollo in Amyclae . The Romans also had two types of thrones—one for the emperor and one for the goddess Roma whose statues were seated upon thrones, which became centers of worship. In Persia , the traditional name of the throne is the Takht-e Padeshah . From

7452-421: The style and ornamentation used on them, according to the regulations and traditions of the particular denomination. As a mark of distinction, Roman Catholic bishops and higher prelates have a right to a canopy above their thrones at certain ecclesiastical functions. It is sometimes granted by special privilege to prelates inferior to bishops, but always with limitations as to the days on which it may be used and

7544-593: The subject with other symbols are among the earliest indications of Christian architectural sculpture at this period; they are in Berlin, San Marco, Venice and Nicosia, Cyprus . Elsewhere it may occupy the centre of a frieze below a larger composition in the apse semi-dome , or a position on the main axis of a circular frieze round a central scene in the roof of a dome, as in the Arian Baptistry (start of 6th century) in Ravenna. At Castelseprio it occupies

7636-526: The throne of a Hindu princely state 's ruler, while among Muslim princes or Nawabs, save exceptions such as the Travancore State royal family, the term musnad ( [ˈməsnəd] ), also spelt as musnud , was more common, even though both seats were similar. The Throne of Jahangir was built by Mughal emperor Jahangir in 1602 and is located at the Diwan-i-Khas (hall of private audience) at

7728-491: The throne or facing out and gesturing towards it; if there is a roundel they may be outside it. In earlier depictions other figures may surround the throne, for example Saints Peter and Paul in Santa Prassede , Rome (9th century). An alternative to the angels is kneeling figures of Adam and Eve in old age paying homage on either side of the throne. These are found in several large wall-paintings and mosaics , from

7820-466: The thrones are concerned with carrying out divine justice. In Medieval times the "Throne of Solomon" was associated with the Virgin Mary , who was depicted as the throne upon which Jesus sat . The ivory in the biblical description of the Throne of Solomon was interpreted as representing purity, the gold representing divinity, and the six steps of the throne stood for the six virtues . Psalm 45:9

7912-677: The title hetoimasia , literally "preparation", meaning "that which has been prepared" or "that which is made ready", and specifically refers to the "sign of the Son of Man" and the Last Judgement. By this time the image usually occurs in the West only under direct Byzantine influence, as in Venice and Torcello. Some Early Christians had believed that the True Cross had miraculously ascended to Heaven, where it remained in readiness to become

8004-517: The traditional name for a throne is palin , from the Pali term pallaṅka , which means "couch" or "sofa." The Burmese palin in pre-colonial times was used to seat the sovereign and his main consort, and is today used to seat religious leaders such as sayadaws , and images of the Buddha. Royal thrones are called yazapalin (ရာဇပလ္လင်), while thrones seating images or statues of the Buddha are called gaw pallin (ဂေါ့ပလ္လင်) or samakhan (စမ္မခဏ်), from

8096-487: The two chief founders of the Asante Confederacy , caused the stool to descend from the sky and land on the lap of the first Asante king, Osei Tutu . Such seats were traditionally symbolic of a chieftain's leadership, but the Golden Stool is believed to house the spirit of the Asante nation—living, dead and yet to be born. Each stool is understood to be the seat of the owner's soul and when not in use it

8188-690: The windows. Similar images are found in the Chludov Psalter and elsewhere. However, in this case the etimasia did not become part of a conventional composition, and it is not found in modern icons of the Pentecost. It has been suggested that the empty stool with a cushion in the foreground of Jan van Eyck 's Annunciation in Washington may suggest the empty throne; van Eyck characteristically uses domestic fittings to represent doctrinal references. The image has been regarded as illustrating

8280-523: Was also interpreted as referring to the Virgin Mary, with the entire Psalm describing a royal throne room. From ancient times, bishops of the Roman Catholic , Eastern Orthodox , Anglican and other churches where episcopal offices exist, have been formally seated on a throne, called a cathedra ( Greek : κάθεδρα, seat ). Traditionally located in the sanctuary , the cathedra symbolizes

8372-455: Was placed on a dais to the side of the Altar of the Chair. When the pope celebrates Mass on the basilica steps facing St. Peter's Square , portable thrones are also used. In the past, the pope was also carried on occasions in a portable throne, called the sedia gestatoria . Originally, the sedia was used as part of the elaborate procession surrounding papal ceremonies that was believed to be

8464-559: Was still a matter of controversy within Christianity. At the First Council of Nicaea in 325 an empty throne had the imperial insignia on it, representing the emperor Constantine I when he was not present. However within a few decades an empty throne with a book of the gospels on it was being placed in the chamber of church councils to represent Christ, as at the First Council of Ephesus in 431. It has been suggested that

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