:''This article is about royal thrones; for the order of
angels by the same name see
thrones.''
A 'throne' is the official
chair or seat upon which a
monarch is seated on state or ceremonial occasions. "Throne" in an abstract sense can also refer to the
monarchy or
the Crown itself, an instance of
metonymy, and is also used in many terms such as "
the power behind the throne".
Thrones in ancient cultures
During the
Middle Kingdom period, the
Dragon Throne of the
Emperor of China was erected at the center of the
Forbidden City, which was itself regarded as the centre of the world. The series of gates and passages a visitor had to pass through before reaching the emperor was intended to inspire awe.
Thrones have been the symbol of
monarchs and
deities since
ancient times. In some cultures, an early form of the throne was used in
coronation ceremonies, or to lift the monarch up above all others present. Thrones have ever since been associated with royal power.
The
Greeks (according to
Homer) were known to place additional, empty thrones in 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.
The
Hittites considered thrones to be gods themselves.
Thrones and the Bible
The word "throne" appears in the
Bible 176 times ("thrones", in the plural, appears 9 times).
[1] God is described as seated upon a throne in the manner of kings, as a sign of his sovereignty over
creation.
Fanciful depiction of
Solomon on his throne
In the '
Old Testament', King David and King
Solomon (as God's representative on earth) are depicted upon thrones: "Moreover the king made a great throne of
ivory, and overlaid it with the best
gold" ().
Isaiah mentions the same throne: ():
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the
Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the Throne of
David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."
In the '
New Testament', the
Angel Gabriel also refers to this throne in the
Gospel of Luke ():
"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 ().
John's
Revelation states: "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away" ().
The
Apostle Paul speaks of "
thrones" in .
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 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. was also interpreted as referring to the Virgin Mary, the entire Psalm describing a royal throne room.
Ecclesiastical thrones
Main articles: Cathedra
Throne of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople in the
Phanar, Istanbul. On the diaz the
Gospel is enthroned, in front of it, lower down is the patriarch's throne.
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 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 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 and/or splendor. In Roman Antiquity 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. For instance,
abbots and
abbesses. These are often simpler than the thrones used by bishops and there may be restrictions on 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 the character of its ornamentation. The
liturgical colour 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.
[2]
In the
Greek Orthodox Church, the bishop's throne will often combine features of the monastic choir stall (''
kathisma'') with appurtenances inherited from 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.
Papal Thrones
''Cathedra Sancti Petri'', behind the
high altar of St. Peter's Basilica, Rome
In 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 symbolic remnant located within the city of Rome of the
Papal States, which for centuries constituted one of the largest political powers on the divided Italian peninsula). To this day the
Holy See maintains officially-recognized diplomatic status, and papal
nuncios and
legates are deputed on
diplomatic missions throughout the world.
The throne upon which the
Pope is traditionally seated as
Bishop of Rome (the ''Cathedra Romana''), is located in the
apse of the
Basilica of St. John Lateran, his
cathedral. The throne upon which he sits as Pope is in the apse of
St. Peter's Basilica at the
Vatican. Enshrined above this throne is an armchair believed to have been used by
Saint Peter, the first pope. This
relic is known as the ''
Cathedra Sancti Petri'' (Chair of Saint Peter).
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, ostentatious pomp surrounding papal ceremonies that was believed to be the most direct heir of
pharaonic splendour, 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. However, he did not restore the use of the flabella. The use of the ''sedia'' was abandoned by
Pope John Paul II in favor of the so-called "
popemobile" when outside. Near 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 the canopy over the newly-elected pope. This was the new pope's first throne. This tradition was dramatically portrayed in the 1963 film, ''
The Shoes of the Fisherman''.
Thrones in feudal times
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. One of the grandest and most important was the Throne of Charlemagne in the the "Imperial Cathedral" (
German: ''Kaiserdom'') at
Aachen, the site of the coronation of 30 German kings and emperors of the
Holy Roman Empire.
The
Byzantine emperors made use of much more elaborate thrones, often guarded by stone lions. The emperor was initially seen behind a series of silken screens, which would be pulled aside if the foreign visitor was sufficiently important. As the throne was approached mechanical lion would roar and organs would play. On reaching the foot of the throne, the suppicant was forced to prostrate and touch his head to the ground, and the throne would rise into the air, so that when the visitor raised his head from the ground he would be astounded.
[3]
The medieval
Russian Tsars also employed Byzantine ceremonial with regard to throne-room
etiquette. The most famous throne of
Muscovy was the Ivory Throne of
Ivan IV "the Terrible". Dating from the mid-XVIth century, 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. The plaques carved with scenes from the biblical account of
King David’s life are of particular relevance, as David was seen as the ideal for Christian monarchs.
[4]
In the Indian subcontinent, the term 'gaddi' (pronounced , also called ''rājgaddī'') was reserved for the throne of a Hindu
princely state's ruler, while their Muslim colleagues throned on a 'musnad' (pronounced ), even though both were in the shape of a
divan. In the
Mughal times the throne was called ''Shāhī takht'' (pronounced ), while traditional
Sanskrit name for the throne was ''singhāsana'' (lit., seat of a lion).
In the '
regency' (nominally an Ottoman province, de facto an independent realm) of the
Bey of
Tunis, the throne was called 'kursi'.
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 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.
Thrones in modern times
In some countries today which retain a monarchy, thrones are still used and have important symbolic and ceremonial meaning. However many modern day monarchies have dispensed with the usage of such symbolism as
crowns, thrones and
coronations.
Among 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,
Denmark,
The Netherlands,
Canada,
Australia, and
Japan (see above) among others.
Some republics use distinctive throne-like chairs in some state ceremonial. The
President of the United States sits on a distinctive high-backed white-clothed chair in the
Oval Office in the
White House when meeting distinguished visitors in front of the media.(The visitor sits in a matching chair.) The
President of Ireland sits on a former
viceregal throne during his or her
inauguration ceremony while
Lords Mayor of many
British and
Irish cities often preside over local councils from throne-like chairs.
List of named thrones
★ The
Throne of Solomon
Europe
★
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 Throne of
Charlemagne in the
cathedral at
Aachen,
Germany
★ The Ivory Throne of
Ivan the Terrible
★ The papal ''
sedia gestatoria''
Africa
★ the
Golden Stool of the
Ashanti
★ the
Throne of David of the
Emperors of
Ethiopia
Asia
★ the
Dragon Throne of the
Emperors of
China
★ the
Chrysanthemum Throne of the
Emperors of
Japan
★ the
Phoenix Throne of the
Kings of
Korea
★ the
Lion Throne of the
Dalai Lama of
Tibet
★ the Lion Throne of
Sikkim
★ the stone throne of King Kasyapa from
SriLanka [1] from the 5th century citadel of
Sigiri
★ the stone throne of King
Nissankamalla from
Sri Lanka [2] from the 12th century
Polonnaruwa kingdom
★ the
Peacock Throne of the
Mughal Emperors, later became:
★ the
Peacock Throne of the
Persian Shahs
★ the
Takht-e Marmar of the
Persian Shahs
★ the Peacock Throne of
Korea
★ the Peacock throne at
Montchobo, then at
Ava, ancient capitals of
Burma
★ the 'Saridhaleys' 'ivory throne' and the 'sighsana' 'lion throne' of the
Maldives sultanate
★ the sandalwood throne, at
Bikaner Fort
★ the
throne of David, at the Cathedral of St. Mary of Zion, in
Axum, ancient capital of orthodox Coptic
Ethiopia
Gallery
Thrones of kings and emperors
Thrones of the popes
Other uses
★ In
slang, a common sit-down
toilet is also called a throne.
★ In
music, the stool used to sit behind a
drumkit is often called a throne.
★ One of the Angel choirs is an order called
Ophanim or 'Thrones', said to carry God's heavenly throne - other choir names expressing power in secular terms include Powers, Principalities, Dominions
Sources and references
1.
2. Canopy The Catholic Encyclopedia
3. Byzantium
4. Throne of Ivan IV the Terrible
See also
★
Enthronement
External links
★
RoyalArk- here India
العربية
中国
Français
Deutsch
Ελληνική
हिन्दी
Italiano
日本語
Português
Русский
Español
