The Throne reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Throne

This article is about royal thrones, for the order of angels by the same name see Thrones.

A throne is the chair upon which a monarch is seated. "Throne" in an abstract sense can also refer to the monarchy itself, and is also used in many terms such as "the power behind the throne."

Table of contents

1 Thrones in ancient cultures 2 Thrones and the Bible 2.1 Ecclasiastical thrones 3 Thrones in modern times 4 List of famous thrones

Thrones in ancient cultures

Thrones have been the symbol of kings and gods since ancient times. The throne was used for coronation ceremonies and to lift the king up above all others present. Thrones were since then directly associated with royal power.

The Greeks (according to Homerus) were known to place additional, empty thrones in the royal palaces and temples so that the gods could be present when they wished to be. The most famous of these thrones was the throne of Apollo in Amyclae.

The Romans also had two thrones - one for the Emperor and one for the goddess Rome whose statues were seated upon thrones, which became centers of worship.

The Hittites considered thrones to be gods themselves.

Thrones and the Bible

The Bible mentions many thrones. God was seated upon a throne and so was King Solomon (as God's representative on earth): "Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold" (Kings 10:18).

In Medieval times the throne of Solomon was associated with Mary. The ivory of the throne represented purity, the gold represented divinity and the six steps of the throne stood for the six virtues.

In the New Testament, Jesus promised his Apostles that they would sit upon "twelve thrones", judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28). John's Revelations states: "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away"

Ecclasiastical thrones

The throne upon which the Pope is seated is known as the Holy See of Saint Peter (cathedra Sancti Petri). Bishops and abbots are also seated upon thrones.

Thrones in modern times

In many countries today which retain a monarchy, thrones are still used and have important symbolic and ceremonial meaning.

List of famous thrones

• The Throne of Solomon
• The Throne of Apollo in Amyclae
• St Edward's Chair in Westminster Abbey, London, where British monarchs are crowned. It at one time contained the Stone of Scone (also called the Stone of Destiny) upon which the Kings of Scotland were crowned
• The Peacock Throne of the Persian Shahs
• The Golden Throne of the Ashanti
• The Throne of Charlemagne in the cathedral at Aachen, Germany

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