Biblical Hebrew Forum

[ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk (Ben and Jo Crick)]

On Mon  5 May 2003 (11:13:12), cc.constantine AT worldnet.att.net wrote:
> Ok, no chairs but perhaps something like an arm rail to hang on to.
> What I was trying to discover was a throne with wide flat arms,
> providing a bench like surface suitable for supporting objects of
> moderate size. In all the images I have seen so far from ANE sources no
> such throne has appeared. The thrones with arms have only narrow rails
> with no flat surface at all.

 The Hittite chariots must have been like a "buck-board" with only a
 handrail at the front for support.

 I have here DJ Wiseman, /Illustrations from Biblical Archaeology/,
 The Tyndale Press, London, 1958. On p 75 is a cylinder impression
 showing Darius I of Babylon hunting from a 2-wheel chariot. There is
 a box-like body to the chariot, with the driver at the front controlling
 the single horse with a pair of reins. The king is standing behind the
 driver's seat, drawing a bow and arrow, wearing a crown upon his head.

 On p 77 is a picture of Darius seated on a chair-like throne, with young
 Xerxes standing behind him. The Chair appears to be an ordinary wooden
 chair without arms, but with a footstool. Darius is holding a long sceptre
 in his right hand, and a drinking vessel in his left. Xerxes is also
 holding a drinking vessel in his left hand.

 On p 63 there is a relief of Sennacherib King of Assyria sitting on a
 similar wooden-looking throne, receiving offerings of spoils of battle.
 Sennacherib's throne has low armrests at elbow height, and a footstool.

 On p 27 the throne of Marduk is depicted. What the god is sitting upon is
 not easy to see. It looks like a church pew with a book-rest in front.
 Hammurabi is receiving from him his symbols of authority.

 As ever,

 Ben
-- 
 Revd Ben Crick BA CF, and Mrs Joanna (Goodwin) Crick
 <ben.crick AT argonet.co.uk>
 232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
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