Kings i, 46 ; 2 Chron. vii, 18). The characteristic feat- ure in the royal throne was its elevation : Solomon's throne was ajiproached by six steps (1 Kings x, 19; 2 Chron. ix, 18); and Jehovah's throne is described as "high and liftetl up" (Isa. vi, 1; comp. Horn. OJyss. i, 130; iv, loG ; Curtius, v, 2, 13). The materials and workmanship were costly: that of Solomon is described as a ■• throne of ivory" (i. e. inlaid with ivory), and over- laid with pure gold in all parts except where the ivory was apparent. It was furnished with arms or "stays," after the manner of an Assyrian chair of state (see Kaw- linson, Herod, iv, 15). The steps were also lined with pairs of lions, the number of them being perhaps de- signed to correspond with that of the tribes of Israel. As to the form of the chair, we are only informed in 1 Kings X, 19 that "the top was round behind" (appar- ently meaning either that the back was rounded oft' at the top or that there was a circular canopy over it). In lieu of this particular, we are told in 2 Chron. ix, 18 that " there was a footstool of gold fastened to the throne." but the verbal agreement of the descriptions in other respects leads to the presumption that this variation arises out of a corrupted text (Thenius, Comm. on 1 Kinr/s, loc. cit.) — a presumption which is favored by the fact that the terms dD3 and the Hophal form n^TnN"a occur nowhere else. The king sat on his throne on state occasions, as when granting audiences (1 Kings ii, 19; xxii, 10; Esth. v, 1), receiving homage (2 Kings, xi, 19), or administering justice (Prov. xx, 8). At such times he appeared in his royal robes (1 Kings xxii, 10; Jonah iii, 6 ; Acts xii, 21). Archelaus addressed the mul-
Assyrian Chair of State.
titude from " an elevated seat and a throne of gold" (Jo- sephus. War, ii, 1, 1). A throne was generally placed upon a dais or platform, and under a canopy ; and in the sublime description of the King of kings (Rev. iv), this latter is compared to the emerald hue of the rainbow. In Rev. iv, 4; xi, 16 the elders who represent the Church as reigning with Christ are seated on thrones placed around his; and in ii, 13 Satan is represent- ed as imitating the royal seat of Christ. For mod- ern Oriental thrones, see Van Lennep, Bible Lands, p. 643.
Mr. Layard discovered in the mound at Nimrud, among other extraordinary relics, the throne on which the Assyrian monarchs sat three thousand years ago. It is composed of metal and of ivory, the metal being richly wrought and the ivory beautifully carved. The throne seems to have been separated from the state apartments by means of a large curtain, the rings by which it was drawn and undrawn having been preserved (Nin. and Bah. p. 198). The chair represented on the earliest monuments is without a back, the legs are tastefully carved, and the seat is adorned with the heads of rams.
THRONE, EPISCOPAL
392
THUGS
The cushion appears to have been of some rich stuff, embroidered or painted. The legs were strengthened bv a cross-bar, and frequently ended in the feet of a lion or the hoofs of a bull, either of gold, silver, or bronze (Xiiierch, ii, 235). The throne of the Egyptian mon- archs is often exhibited on the ancient monuments. See CiiAiK.
Aucient Egyptian Throne.
The throne was the symbol of supreme power and dignity (Gen. xli, 40), and hence was attributed to .Je- hovah both in respect to his heavenly abode (Psa. xi, 4; ciii, 19 i Isa. Ixvi, 1 ; Acts vii, 49; Rev. iv, 2) and to his earthly abode at Jerusalem (.jer. iii, 17), and more particularly in the Temple (xvii, 12; Ezek. xliii, 7). {Similarly, '"to sit upon the throne" implied the exercise of regal power (Deut. xvii, 18; 1 Kings xvi, 11; 2 Kings X, 30; Est!), i, 2), and "to sit upon the throne of another person" succession to the royal dignity (1 Kings i, 13). The term " throne" is sometimes equiva- lent to " kingdom" (2 Chron. ix, 8; Acts ii, 30; Pleb. i, 8). So, also, '• thrones" designates earthly potentates and celestial beings, archangels (Col. i, 16). See Seat.
THRONE, Episcopal, the official seat placed in the cathedral, or chief seat of a diocese, and occupied by the bishop on public occasions. This was the common honor and privilege of all bishops from very early times. Thus Eusebius calls the bishop of Jerusalem's seat B'puvoQ (iTToaToXiKnc, the apostolical throne, because James, bishop of Jerusalem, first sat in it. It was also called l3riiJ.a, rostrum ; and Srpovog vtl/ijXog, the hi//h throne, because it was exalted somewhat higher than the seats of the presbyters, which were on each side of it, and were called the second thrones. It generally
Ecclesiastical Throne and its Accessories.
1. Episcopal throne , 2. Preshylere' seats ; 3. Commnnion-table ; 4. Cibo- rioin ; 5. Bema or chancel ; 6. Chancel rail.
Stood at the east end of the choir or sanctuart' ; that is, in churches which were built in the form of basilicas, and were apsidal. This is still the case at Milan and Augsburg. In medieval times the bishop's seat was frequently the best and most exclusive stall on the south side, and almost invariably occupied by him dur-