Roman Throne Discovered in Italian Ruins
Pastor Dale Morgan
Dec 4, 9:24 PM EST
*Roman Throne Discovered in Italian Ruins*
By ARIEL DAVID
Associated Press Writer
ROME (AP) -- Remnants of the first known surviving Roman throne have
been discovered in the lava and ash that buried the city of Herculaneum
in the first century, archaeologists said Tuesday.
Decorated with ivory bas-reliefs depicting ancient deities, two legs and
part of the back of the wooden throne were dug out between October and
November. They were found 82 feet below ground near Herculaneum's Villa
dei Papiri, a first century country home that is believed to have been
the residence of Julius Caesar's father-in-law.
Herculaneum, Pompeii and Stabiae were destroyed by the eruption of Mount
Vesuvius that killed thousands in the year 79. The layers of volcanic
ash preserved the sites for centuries, providing precious information on
domestic life in the ancient world.
Archaeologists said the throne was an exceptional find; furniture of its
type had previously only been seen in artistic depiction.
"It's the first original throne from Roman times that has survived until
today," Pietro Giovanni Guzzo, Pompeii's archaeological superintendent,
told a news conference in Rome.
Villa dei Papiri, so called because it has yielded a library of hundreds
of ancient papyruses, has only been partially excavated and it is not
yet clear whether the throne belonged to the ancient residence, said
Maria Paola Guidobaldi, the dig's director.
The throne depicts Greek mythological figures absorbed by Rome's culture
and is decorated with images of the gods Attis and Dionysus, as well as
pine cones and phalluses.
Experts said the reliefs recall the "Attideia" ceremonies, which
commemorated the death and resurrection of Attis, husband and victim of
the goddess Cibele, and were introduced to the Roman calendar by the
Emperor Claudius.
The fragile remains will now undergo a lengthy restoration, while
archaeologists hope to discover many more precious artifacts as the dig
in the Villa dei Papiri continues, Guidobaldi said.
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Associated Press reporter Alessandra Molinari in Rome contributed to
this report.