Thrones of Astarte

Places associated with the 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. Many of the thrones are similarly styled, flanked by cherubim-headed winged lions on either side. 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).

Two of the thrones bear inscriptions – one published by Ronzevalle in 1907, and a second published by Lemaire in 2014.

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.Dunand
HellenisticSidonNational Museum of BeirutnoneOn the front, a Phoenician palmette. On the seat, a large rectangular mortise used to fix an object. Backrest without decoration.1941 Dunand
RomanSidonNational Museum of BeirutGreek inscriptionSeat very tilted, unable to hold an object. The back shows a globe inside a crescent.1924
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 baetyl and its crowns. On the side faces, officiating priests.1933
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.
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.1907 Ronzevalle
HellenisticAin Baal near TyreNational Museum of BeirutnoneSeat contains a stele or baetyl
HellenisticRegion of TyreNational Museum of BeirutnoneSeat contains a stele or baetyl
4th century BCEUmm al-AmadLouvrenoneOn the front, a Phoenician palmette1860, Renan
Umm al-AmadNational Museum of BeirutnoneThe front is broken. Horizontal seat, rounded front. Backrest without decoration. Large throne which could fit a person.Dunand
Temple of EshmunTemple of EshmunnoneDunand
Temple of EshmunNational Museum of BeirutnoneDunand
HellenisticUnknownNational Museum of Beirutnone

References

  1. ↑ Milik, 1967
  2. 1 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 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