SAEDNEWS: The Golden Throne of Tutankhamun, a masterpiece of ancient Egyptian art, was discovered in the pharaoh’s tomb in 1922. This ceremonial chair, made of wood, gold, silver, and semi-precious stones, depicts a romantic scene of King Tut and his wife, Ankhesenamun, under the rays of the sun god Aten in the Amarna style.
According to the History & Culture Service of Saed News, the Golden Throne of Tutankhamun is one of the most remarkable and beautiful artifacts discovered in the nearly untouched tomb of the young pharaoh Tutankhamun (reign: 1332–1323 BCE) in the Valley of the Kings. Excavated in 1922 by British archaeologist Howard Carter, it represents the pinnacle of craftsmanship and artistry of Egypt’s Eighteenth Dynasty. Carter himself described it as “probably one of the most beautiful works of art ever discovered.”
Materials: The throne’s main structure is wood, entirely covered with thick sheets of gold. Sections are also adorned with silver, colored glass (faience), ivory, and semi-precious stones such as lapis lazuli, carnelian, and turquoise.
Legs and Armrests: The four legs are shaped like lion’s paws, while the armrests feature winged sphinxes or uraeus cobras with falcon heads, holding the king’s cartouches. The front of the seat shows raised lion heads, symbolizing power and protection.
Main Scene: Tutankhamun is depicted resting on the throne while his wife, Queen Ankhesenamun, affectionately anoints his shoulder with perfume—a rare, intimate portrayal of an ancient Egyptian royal couple.
Amarna Style Influence: The informal and tender depiction reflects the Amarna artistic style of Tutankhamun’s father, Akhenaten.
Sun Disk: Above the scene, the sun disk (Aton) extends human-like rays toward the royal couple, offering them the “Ankh” (key of life), symbolizing the religious shift from Aton worship to Amun and the spiritual renewal of Tutankhamun’s reign.
The throne served not only as a ceremonial symbol of pharaonic power, majesty, and divinity but also preserves extraordinary technical detail and vibrant color after more than 3,000 years. It provides a rare insight into craftsmanship, artistic taste, and private court life in the New Kingdom.
Today, the throne is part of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) collection, having previously been displayed for decades at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
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