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[[File:Knossos 07.jpeg|thumbnail|300px|left|Figure 1. Europe's oldest known throne room is from Knossos in Crete, which is reconstructed here.]]__NOTOC__The throne has been a type of royal furniture that has often been associated with the very nature of monarchy. A monarch's authority is often symbolized through the throne and how . Whether the throne is extraordinarily elaborate or sometimes simple can actually help symbolize the throne may be has come to symbolize nature of the country in which they rule. This symbolism is so useful and powerful that even fiction writers will construct thrones to help tell their stories. George R. R. Martin created the Iron Throne (a throne literally made from the swords of the defeated) to show the reader that the history of Westeros was extraordinarily violent. While modern government in the West has eschewed monarchy, the throne still retains an important symbolic power that also has religious and other cultural connotations.

From What is telling about thrones is that they were common as soon as regions began to develop the very first evidence of the establishment idea of kings and royal authority we begin to see a throne or idea . Few other pieces of furniture became so common throughout much of a raised seat depicted in royal imagerythe ancient world. Both in In ancient Egypt China, chairs were classified and Mesopotamia, depictions associated with classes of thrones are shown soon after those regions developed royal powerpeople who could sit on certain chairs. The throne was not just a raised seat but also was placed into a special roomThrones in China, the throne roomlike many other regions, where royalty began to receive and meet with foreigners and subjects alike. Thrones were already decoratedbe named, often made with ebonythe latest name used was the Dragon Throne, cedar, and gilded with gold or even ivorywhere the name lasted until the last Qing Dynasty emperor in the early 20th century. Thrones also became raisedIn India, to show the status ancient name for the throne was the seat of the kinglion. Often a large stone slab or platform Similar to China, it was used to raise the seatintricately decorated and was only associated with royal authority. <ref>For Egyptmore on thrones around Asia, this was particularly important because the king see: Stunkel, K.R. (or pharaoh2011) was also a god <i> Ideas and art in Asian civilizations: India, China, and being raised indicated the divine nature of authorityJapan.</i> Armonk, N.Y, M.E. Sharpe, Inc.</ref>

For deitiesEurope's oldest throne room is found at the palace of Knossos (Figure 1), they also became associated as seated figures who resided a city in Crete that existed in special houses (or temples)the 2nd millennium BCE. Sometimes these deities were represented as statues placed in Similar to the ancient Near East, the idea of a niche throne room was also meant to not only have the raised chair and platform where the king would receive people but often they were wall decorations of griffins, which also represented became symbols of protection of royal power in the Mediterranean and stretching to Central Asia, began to be prominently displayed. Such mythical symbols continued into modern eras as seated figures who sat on a throne symbols of authorityprotection, often for the state. In particular, deities associated with monarchsAt Knossos, such as the sun godthrone also was surrounded by benches, which were more typically seatedpossibly used by the king's council. Thus, thrones and the throne room also began to symbolize a type of court where they council would be shown imparting wisdom on rulers given to govern their peoplethe king. This concept is also in Later, the Bible idea of a parliament retained this idea, where Yahweh is described as seated a king would receive council sitting on a raised throne. <ref>For more on Knossos, see: Castleden, R. (1990) <i>The Knossos labyrinth: a new view of the ‘Palace of Minos’ at Knosos.</i> London ; New York, Routledge.</ref>

What is telling about thrones is that they Thrones were common also independently used in the New World. Aztec gods, such as soon Ehecatl, were shown as regions began to develop seated on thrones. An elaborate throne in Tenochtitlan was found, called the idea throne of kings Montezuma (Figure 2), which was used for religious and royal authorityceremony. Few other pieces The Aztec king likely sat on it to perform his religious duties where he made contact with the earth and sun, acting as the sacred guardian of furniture became so common throughout much both these important symbols of the religious authority.<ref>For more on Mayan thrones, see: McKillop, H. (2004) <i>The ancient worldMaya: new perspectives. In </i> ABC-Clio’s understanding ancient Chinacivilizations. Santa Barbara, chairs were classified and associated with classes of people who could sit on certain chairsCalif. Thrones in China, like many other regionsABC-CLIO, began to be namedpg. 220</ref><ref>For more on the Aztec thrones, see: Mundy, with the latest name used was the Dragon ThroneB.E. (2015) <i>The death of Aztec Tenochtitlan, where the name lasted until the last Qing Dynasty emperor rules life of Mexico City.</i> Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long series in the early 20th centuryLatin American and Latino art and culture. In IndiaAustin, the ancient name for the throne was the seat University of the lion. Similar to ChinaTexas Press, it was intricately decorated and was only associated with royal authoritypg.216</ref>

Europe's oldest ==Later Authority==[[File:Taisho enthronement.jpeg|thumbnail|left|300px|Figure 3. The throne room is found at used to coronate Emperor Taishō.]]Taking the palace idea of Knossosroyal and religious thrones, a city in Crete when Christianity developed it was seen that existed both high priests, such as bishops or the pope, had authority to sit on thrones as well as kings. In effect, the close nature and symbolism shared between royal and religious power led to similar displays developed in the 2nd millennium BCEcathedrals, churches, and palaces. Similar European royal thrones, however, developed into more simple designs in contrast to earlier periods or from the ancient Near Eastroyal thrones in Asia (e.g., China or India). Initially in Europe, kings tried to fashion themselves as continuing the idea traditions of Rome. Royal thrones became more simple as a throne room was also meant sign of respect to not only have the raised chair religious authority and platform where God.<ref>For more on European thrones in the king would receive people but wall decorations early Medieval period, see: Collins, R. (2010) <i>Early medieval Europe, 300-1000.</i> History of griffinsEurope. 3rd ed. Houndmills, which also Basingstoke [England] ; New York, NY, Palgrave Macmillan.</ref> <dh-ad/> As royal thrones generally became symbols of royal power simple in decoration in Europe, religious ones became more elaborate. Bishop thrones in cathedrals or eastern Orthodox thrones, in the Mediterranean particular, became gilded with gold and stretching elaborately decorated. The raised platforms, similar to Central Asia. At Knossosroyal thrones, began to symbolize the throne also was surrounded by benches, which were possibly used by religious authority figures such as bishops and popes had to teach the king's councilmasses. ThusIn fact, the elaborate nature of thrones also became to symbolize a type one of court where council would be given to the kingissues that the Reformation decried against. Later<ref>For more on religious thrones, see: McNamara, D.R. (2009) <i>Catholic church architecture and the idea spirit of a parliament retained this ideathe liturgy.</i> Chicago, where a king would receive council sitting on a raised throneHillenbrand Books.</ref>

However, by the later Medieval era, some European states began to not only become more wealthy but the simple thrones and regalia were updated to reflect growing power. One of the more elaborately decorated thrones was that of Ivan the Terrible, who ruled in the 16th century. Ivan was known as a megalomaniac king and lavished his own power greatly. In effect, his throne continued the millennia long tradition of thrones reflecting the type of power royal authorities wanted to display, even when that display shifted from more humble depictions to one of showing more grandeur.<ref>For more on Ivan the Terrible and his throne, see: Payne, P.S.R. & Romanoff, N. (2002) <i>Ivan the Terrible.</i> 1. Cooper Square Press ed. New York, NY, Cooper Square Press.</ref> In Asia, thrones continued to be named such as the Peacock throne in Korean, India, and Iran. The throne of Japan is known as the Chrysanthemum Throne (Figure 3). Islamic thrones were often simple, or at least free from pictured art; however, they could contain verses from the Quran. In effect, the ruler was intended to show himself more as a humble servant of God rather than depicted elaborately. In Islam, one of God's great creations is his throne, where it was exalted high above in paradise. In effect, this is similar to Christian, Jewish, and pre-monotheistic concepts of a seated deity. However, now, human thrones had to adjust to become more simplified, as thrones that were too elaborate would suggest worship of a human.<ref>For more on Islam and Islamic rulers, see: Lange, C.R. (2016) <i>Paradise and hell in Islamic traditions.</i> New York, NY, Cambridge University Press.</ref> ==Later AuthorityModern Symbolism==For democratic states that have evolved out of ancient monarchies, the throne still has important meaning to government. In Japan, the Chrysanthemum Throne is described as reflecting the unity and deep history of Japan, as the monarchy in that state is the longest continuing monarchy known to us.<ref>For more on modern Japan and its throne, see: Martin, P. (1997) <i>The chrysanthemum throne: a history of the emperors of Japan.</i> Honolulu, University of Hawai’i Press.</ref> In the United Kingdom, the coronation throne, held in Westminster Abbey, looks to be a relatively simple looking chair that the monarch is crowned in. It was once decorated and gilded; however, the aged appearance is part of the symbolism, as it reflects the long continuity of the monarchy. The throne is still used as the symbol of official government power in the UK, where the Queen opens parliament while seated on an elaborate, decorated throne where she is also dressed in her royal jewelry and crown.<ref>For more on the modern throne and government in the UK, see : Lyon, A. (2003) <i> Constitutional history of the UK. </i>London ; Portland, Or, Cavendish Pub, pg. 303.</ref>