The Sun Throne ( fa, تخت خورشید, Takht-e Khurshīd) is the imperial
throne
A throne is the seat of state of a potentate or dignitary, especially the seat occupied by a sovereign on state occasions; or the seat occupied by a pope or bishop on ceremonial occasions. "Throne" in an abstract sense can also refer to the mona ...
of
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Tu ...
. It has its name after a radiant sun disk on the headboard. The throne has the shape of a platform, similar to the
Marble Throne in
Golestan Palace. The
Naderi Throne was constructed later and has the appearance of a chair. Since 1980 it has been displayed at
Iran's Central Bank.
History
It was constructed for
Fath-Ali Shah Qajar
Fath-Ali Shah Qajar ( fa, فتحعلىشاه قاجار, Fatḥ-ʻAli Šâh Qâjâr; May 1769 – 24 October 1834) was the second Shah (king) of Qajar Iran. He reigned from 17 June 1797 until his death on 24 October 1834. His reign saw the irr ...
,
Shah of
Persia
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmen ...
, in the early nineteenth century and was used as the coronation throne from then onwards. He took Tavous
Khanum
Khanum, Hanum, Khanom, or Khanoum ( kz, Hanym/Ханйм, uz, Xonim/Хоним, az, Xanım, tr, Hanım, fa, خانم, hi, ख़ानुम, bn, খাঁনম/খানম, ar, خانم, ur, خانم, sq, Hanëm) is a female royal and ...
Taj ol-Doleh as one of his consorts. In English, her name translates to Lady Peacock. The marriage ceremony took place on the throne, and Tavous Khanum became his favourite wife. Due to her name, the throne later received the name "Peacock Throne" ( fa, تخت طاووس, Takht-e Tāvūs).
It was also theorised that parts of the plundered Mughal
Peacock Throne
The Peacock Throne ( Hindustani: ''Mayūrāsana'', Sanskrit: मयूरासन, Urdu: تخت طاؤس, fa, تخت طاووس, ''Takht-i Tāvūs'') was a famous jewelled throne that was the seat of the emperors of the Mughal Empire in India ...
were re-used, such as the legs or other parts, however no conclusive proof exists. Nevertheless, in a
metonymic
Metonymy () is a figure of speech in which a concept is referred to by the name of something closely associated with that thing or concept.
Etymology
The words ''metonymy'' and ''metonym'' come from grc, μετωνυμία, 'a change of name' ...
sense, the term "Peacock Throne" also referred rhetorically initially in the West to the institution of the Persian monarchy.
Not a single element on the Sun Throne features a peacock. The
Lion and Sun
The Lion and Sun ( fa, شیر و خورشید, Šir-o xoršid, ; Classical Persian: ) is one of the main emblems of Iran ( Persia), and was an element in Iran's national flag until the 1979 Iranian Revolution and is still commonly used by op ...
was the ancient symbol of kingship in Persia. When the Shah would be seated on the throne, he symbolised the lion, with the sun symbol behind his back. The Shah himself however could also be seen as the sun. The last
Shah,
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi ( fa, محمدرضا پهلوی, ; 26 October 1919 – 27 July 1980), also known as Mohammad Reza Shah (), was the last ''Shah'' (King) of the Imperial State of Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow in the Irani ...
, carried the title ''Aryamehr'' (Light of the Aryans), which was another connotation for the sun.
The throne was probably modeled after the older
Marble Throne, with which it shares many features. The throne has the shape of a raised platform to which two stairs led. The steps feature allegories of fierce creatures. Around the platform is a golden railing inscribed with calligraphy with Koranic verses. In the middle of the platform the sovereign would take his seat elevated above the ground. This has strong connotations to the ancient Persian symbol ''
Faravahar
The Faravahar ( fa, فروهر), also known as the Foruhar () or the Farre Kiyâni ( fa, فر کیانی, label=none), is one of the best-known symbols of Zoroastrianism, an Iranian religion. There are various interpretations of what the Fa ...
'', the
winged sun
The winged sun is a solar symbol associated with divinity, royalty, and power in the Ancient Near East ( Egypt, Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and Persia).
Ancient Egypt
In ancient Egypt, the symbol is attested from the Old Kingdom ( Sneferu, 2 ...
. The throne originally also featured two sculptured birds on either side of the sun, facing it. This added to the symbolism of the elevated, floating throne, occupying a place away from earth and towards heaven.
At the end of the nineteenth century, the sovereign started taking his place on the steps of the throne instead of in the middle of it.
Until 1980 the Sun Throne was located in the Mirror Hall of
Golestan Palace. In 1980 it was decided to move it to the vaults of the
Iranian Crown Jewels at Iran's Central Bank where it is now on display.
References
Further reading
*
External links
* http://www.zar.ir/News/News-4872.aspx
* http://www.worldisround.com/articles/73022/photo658.html
{{coord missing, Tehran Province
Iranian National Jewels
Individual thrones
Tourist attractions in Tehran
Qajar Iran