The term "throne" is used both literally and
metonymically in the Hebrew Bible. As a symbol for kingship, the throne is seen as belonging to David, or to God Himself. In 1 Kings 1:37
Benaiah's blessing to Solomon was "may the LORD... make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David"; while in 1 Chronicles 29:23 we are told "Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king". According to I Kings 7:7, Solomon's throne was placed in the Porch of Judgment, being actually an audience chamber where the king sat in judgment. Its floors were paved with cedar wood. In the Aramaic translation it is described as being an anteroom or vestibule, called "porch of the pillars."
Judaism A Jewish tradition holds that the throne was removed to Babylon, then
Ahasuerus sat on the throne of Solomon. Another tradition holds that six steps related to six terms for the earth. According to the
Targum Sheni of
Megillat Esther, Solomon's throne was one of the earliest
mechanical devices invented, with movable parts. When it was transferred to Persia some centuries later and used in the palace of
Ahasuerus, it ceased to work. It has been described as a throne overlaid with gold, and studded with jewels;
emeralds,
cat's eye, the Baghdadi onyx,
pearls and marble. It was ascended by many steps, the sides of which were aligned with twelve sculptured lions of gold, before whom were golden sculptures of eagles, the right paw of each lion set opposite the left wing of each eagle. As one approached the top of the staircase, there were another six steps directly in front of the semi-circular throne, each step with a pair of sculpted animals, each in gold; the first step having a couching bull opposite a
lion; the second a wolf on its haunches opposite a sheep; the third a
panther opposite a camel; the fourth an eagle opposite a
peacock; the fifth a
wildcat opposite a
cock; the sixth a
hawk opposite a
pigeon. Above the throne was a seven-branched candlestick which afforded light, each branch bearing a sculpted image of the seven patriarchs: Adam (the first man), Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Job among them. Above the throne was also a sculpted design showing seventy golden seats upon which sat the seventy members of the
Sanhedrin, adjudicating in the presence of King Solomon. At the two sides of King Solomon's ears were fixed two fish of the sea. At the very top of Solomon's throne were fixed twenty-four golden wings that provided a protective shade and covering for the king, and whenever the king wished to ascend his throne, the bull on the first step would, by a movable, mechanical contraption, outstretch its forearm and place the king upon the second step, and so-forth, until he ascended the sixth step, upon which ascension mechanical eagles then descended and lifted-up the king, placing him upon his throne. == Christianity ==