The Ancient Throne: The Mediterranean, the Near East, and Beyond, From the 3rd Millennium BCE to the 14th Century CE. Proceedings of the Workshop held at 10th ICAANE in Vienna, April 2016, edited by Liat Naeh and Dana Brostowsky Gilboa, 2020
The symbolic significance and ceremonial role of the throne are well attested in 3rd millennium B... more The symbolic significance and ceremonial role of the throne are well attested in 3rd millennium BCE Meso- potamia. The throne belonged to the fluid group of accoutrements that Sumerian literary texts associate with kingship. Regalia pertained to both human and divine royalty. While verbal designations for regalia do not distinguish between these spheres, their design in visual imagery could vary with the holder and change over time. Because designs were not rigidly fixed, some archaeologists dismiss the existence of regalia in visual imagery and relegate them to a purely ideo- logical and imaginary sphere. However, visual representations do contain hints that objects associated with kingship in texts were meant to represent regalia in imagery as well. After reviewing textual sources that elucidate the significance of thrones, this contribution outlines the development of specific throne designs for particular throne holders in visual imagery and then goes on to explore some anomalies that can be explained as intentional breaks in norms after these had been established. The play with throne designs in these cases alludes to a certain degree of divinity of mortal royals and would not have been possible had the seats in question not represented insignia of kingship
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