Thrones of Astarte

The Thrones of Astarte are approximately a dozen ex-voto "cherubim" thrones found in ancient Phoenician temples in Lebanon, in particular in areas around Sidon, Tyre and Umm al-Amad.[1] Many of the thrones have a similar style, with cherubim heads on winged lion bodies on either side.[2] Images of the thrones are found in Phoenician sites around the Mediterranean, including an ivory plaque from Tel Megiddo (Israel), a relief from Hadrumetum (Tunisia) and a scarab from Tharros (Italy).[2]

Places associated with the Thrones of Astarte

List of Thrones
ImagePeriodLocation foundCurrent locationInscriptionDescriptionFirst published
HellenisticByblosNational Museum of BeirutnoneOn the front, two figures pouring a libation into a flower. On the seat, rectangular anathyrosis for placing an object.[3]Dunand[4]
HellenisticSidonNational Museum of BeirutnoneOn the front, a Phoenician palmette. On the seat, a large rectangular mortise used to fix an object. Backrest without decoration.[3]1941 Dunand[5]
RomanSidonNational Museum of BeirutGreek inscriptionSeat very tilted, unable to hold an object. The back shows a globe inside a crescent.[3]1924[6]
SidonLouvrenoneNaiskos in which is a throne with two sphinxes. Above the seat, U-shaped cavity, intended to receive an object rounded at the bottom: perhaps a round baetylus and its crowns. On the side faces, officiating priests.[3]1933[7]
SidonIstanbul Archaeology MuseumsnoneNaiskos analogous to the previous one. At the back is a small cavity, intended to hold an object. On the sides, winged goddesses of Egyptian style.[3][8]
2nd century BCEKhirbet et-Tayibeh, near Ras al-Ain near TyreLouvrePhoenician dedication to Astarte, known as KAI 17On the throne, two stelae with reliefs, depicting two standing officiants.[3]1907 Ronzevalle[9][10][11]
HellenisticAin Baal near TyreNational Museum of BeirutnoneSeat contains a stele or baetylus[3]
HellenisticRegion of TyreNational Museum of BeirutnoneSeat contains a stele or baetylus[3]
4th century BCEUmm al-AmadLouvrenoneOn the front, a Phoenician palmette[3]1860, Renan[12]
Umm al-AmadNational Museum of BeirutnoneThe front is broken. Horizontal seat, rounded front. Backrest without decoration. Large throne which could fit a person.[3]Dunand
Temple of EshmunTemple of EshmunnoneDunand
Temple of EshmunNational Museum of BeirutnoneDunand
HellenisticUnknownNational Museum of Beirutnone

References
  1. Milik, 1967
  2. Davila and Zuckerman (1993), p.77: "Compare the votive throne discovered at Umm el-'Amed (Dunand and Duru 1962: 168 pl. 67). The lower part of the throne is badly damaged, but the heads are preserved. The heads are human, and each bears a head-dress or coiffure that reaches down to the shoulders. They also have stylized beards. On our throne, what remains of the headdresses/coiffures and beards of the cherubs stylistically parallels those of the Umm el-'Amed cherubs. In fact, it seems quite probable that they stem from the same artistic and iconographic milieu. We may further note the cherub thrones depicted on a Late Bronze/ Iron I ivory from Megiddo, the sarcophagus of Ahiram (cf. Pritchard 1969: figs. 332, 456-59, respectively), a relief from Hadrumetum/Sousse (Cintas 1947: pls. 48-49), and a scarab from Sardinia (Bisi 1967: fig. 57). In each of those exemplars the cherubs have a feline body with wings, a tail, and styled hair, but no beard."
  3. Henri Seyrig's original list of 10 known thrones in 1959: Seyrig, 1959, page 51-52
  4. M. Dunand, Excavations of Byblos, II, p. 79, no.7225, p. 152
  5. Dunand, Bulletin du Musée de Beyrouth, V, 1941, p. 93, where the origin is given as unknown.
  6. Ch. Virolleaud, Syria, V, 1924, p. 119, pi. 32, where the origin is given as unknown. The throne had been received in Sidon by L. Brossé: cf. Noel Aimé-Giron, Bulletin de l'Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale, XXV, 1925, p. 206
  7. Noel Aimé-Giron, Bulletin de l'Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale, XXXIV, 1933, pp. 31-; R. Dussaud, Syria, XIV, 1933, pp. 335-
  8. G. Mendel, Catal. of sculpt. (Museums imper. Ottom.), I, n ° 92 (attribution in the 5th century); Noel Aimé-Giron, Bulletin de l'Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale, XXV, 1924, pp. 191-; cf. R. Dussaud, Syria, VI, 1925, pp. 95-
  9. Sébastien Ronzevalle, Note sur un monument phénicien de la région de Tyr; In: Comptes rendus des séances de l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, 51ᵉ année, N. 10, 1907. pp. 589-598; DOI : https://doi.org/10.3406/crai.1907.71970
  10. Ronzevalle, 1909, p.755-
  11. Clermont-Ganneau, in Repert. epigr. sémit., n ° 800.
  12. E. Renan, Mission de Phénicie (1865–1874), p.707 and plate LIII: "Le petit fauteuil représenté planche LIII est une restitution en partie hypothétique de l’ensemble formé par deux fragments que nous avons rapportés (au Louvre, Catal. n° 75 et 76). Le globe ailé, les bras en forme d’aile, les sculptures fines, quoique très-frustes, du devant sont certains. Les figures des angles sont très-difficiles à agencer." [translated: "The small armchair shown on Plate LIII is a partly hypothetical restitution of the whole formed by two fragments that we have brought back (to the Louvre, Catal. N ° 75 and 76). The winged globe, the wing-shaped arms, the fine, though very rough, carvings on the front are certain. The angle figures are very difficult to arrange."
  13. Noël Aimé-Giron, Un ex-voto à Astarté, BIFAO 25 (1925), p. 191-211

Bibliography
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.