Throne of King Tutankhamun made ​​of pure gold

Throne of King Tutankhamun made ​​of pure gold

The Golden Throne of King Tutankhamun is a masterpiece of art, not only in ancient Egyptian times, but also in the history of the art of mankind in general.

The Significance of the Throne  

- The Throne in Ancient Egypt, as in many eastern countries, was a symbol of authority and prestige. Six chairs were buried with Tutankhamun in his tomb, scattered throughout the Antechamber and the Annexe.

- For the Ancient Egyptians, the Throne means in Hieroglyphs (ist) and it was the emblem of Goddess "Isis"; therefore, the one who was sitting on the throne was represented the son of "Isis" who is God "Horus", so the king was sacred because he is "Horus" who is qualified to sit on the lap of Goddess "Isis".

- Actually "Howard Carter" discovered five other thrones and chairs belong to King "Tutankhamen". These thrones and chairs were found scattered in the "Annex" and the "Antechamber" of the tomb

 Place of discovery

- This golden throne was discovered covered with folds of black linen shrouds in the Antechamber of the tomb number (KV62) of King Tutankhamen beneath the Hippopotamus funerary bed.

 

 Description of the Golden Throne

- This golden throne is made out of wood covered with sheets not leafs of gold and silver and inlaid in some parts with semiprecious stones such as (Turquoise with its light blue color "mfqAt",  faience with its dark blue color "xsbt", and carnelian with its orange color) and some parts inlaid with painted glass. As we know that the silver sheets were very expensive even more expensive or precious than gold because the silver was very rare in ancient Egypt, but the artist used its sheets to cover the costumes of the royal couple and also to differentiate between the two crowns over the serpents on both edges of the thrones because the artist imitate the red color of the crown of Lower Egypt by gold and the white color of the crown of Upper Egypt by silver. 

 

 

- The main scene on the backrest of the golden throne is representing the King "Tutankhamen" seated on a throne similar to this throne cushioned to be more comfortable for the king and that also was a tradition from "El Amarna" period of art. He is sitting in front of his wife "Ankhesenamen" who is represented while bowing and lovely touching his shoulder and massaging the body of the king by special kinds of perfumed ointments and unguents.

 

 -As we see that this scene is full of signs of love and affection between the royal couple such as:-
(1) The massaging scene and the touch of the body of the king from the queen.
(2) Around the main scene there are flowers and fruits, which are considered codes or symbols of love and affection in ancient Egyptian art.