The Roman Arm-chair had a decoration symbolic of Ceres, the Roman goddess of growing plants.

Roman Arm-Chair

The Roman Arm-chair had a decoration symbolic of Ceres, the Roman goddess of growing plants.

"The most powerful of the Great Monguls, the last who ruled with energy and effect." — Chambers' Encyclopedia, 1875

Aurungzebe

"The most powerful of the Great Monguls, the last who ruled with energy and effect." — Chambers'…

"Persian bas-relief, from Pesepolis." —D'Anvers, 1895

Persian bas-relief

"Persian bas-relief, from Pesepolis." —D'Anvers, 1895

"Apse of Basilica, Torcello, with Bishop's throne and seats for clergy." — The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

Basilica

"Apse of Basilica, Torcello, with Bishop's throne and seats for clergy." — The Encyclopedia Britannica,…

"Apse of the Basilica, Torcello, with Bishop's throne and seats for the clergy."

Apse of the Basilica

"Apse of the Basilica, Torcello, with Bishop's throne and seats for the clergy."

Illustration of a bishop sitting on an ornately decorated cathedra. A crosier, pastoral staff, rests against his left shoulder. The view is of the left side of the bishop and throne. There are columns in the background, to the right of the throne. A cathedral is a church that is the cathedra, or seat, of a bishop.

A Bishop Sitting on a Bishop's Throne Called a Cathedra

Illustration of a bishop sitting on an ornately decorated cathedra. A crosier, pastoral staff, rests…

The Chair of St. Augustine at Canterbury Cathedral.

The Chair of St. Augustine

The Chair of St. Augustine at Canterbury Cathedral.

Roman goddess of agriculture

Ceres

Roman goddess of agriculture

Battle fought between two brothers, Cyrus the Younger and Arsaces. Cyrus managed to collect eleven thousand Greek soldiers, and went into battle for the Persian throne his elder brother had recently occupied.

Battle of Cunaxa

Battle fought between two brothers, Cyrus the Younger and Arsaces. Cyrus managed to collect eleven thousand…

" And when even was come, there came a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded it to be given up. And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed." Matthew 27:57-60 ASV
<p>Joseph of Arimathaea (left) requests the body of Jesus from Pilate seated at right.

Joseph of Arimathaea Asks for the Body of Jesus

" And when even was come, there came a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was…

Edward II, (April 25, 1284 &ndash; September 21, 1327?) of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed in January 1327. His tendency to ignore his nobility in favour of low-born favourites led to constant political unrest and his eventual deposition. Edward is perhaps best remembered for his supposed murder and his alleged homosexuality as well as being the first monarch to establish colleges in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge; he founded Cambridge's King's Hall in 1317 and gave Oxford's Oriel College its royal charter in 1326. Both colleges received the favour of Edward's son, Edward III, who confirmed Oriel's charter in 1327 and refounded King's Hall in 1337.

Edward II

Edward II, (April 25, 1284 – September 21, 1327?) of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307…

The Emperor of Blefuscu and his court.

Emperor and Court

The Emperor of Blefuscu and his court.

"Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the entrance of the house. And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be given thee even to the half of the kingdom." Esther 5:1-3 ASV
<p>Illustration of Xerxes, King of Persia, stretching out his golden scepter to Esther.

Esther Approaches King Xerxes

"Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner…

"Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the entrance of the house. And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre." Esther 5:1-2 ASV
<p>Illustration of Esther, dressed in the finest robes, approaching the throne of the king. The king reaches out for her. A handmaid holds the train of Esther's robes. A small boy stands next to the king, with a crown on a pillow. The room is richly decorated with curtains and columns.

Esther Approaches the King and is Welcomed

"Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner…

Odin lets Frey, the god of sunshine, sit in his throne. While he looks across the land, he sees Gerda, a giantess, and falls in love with her.

Frey Sitting in Odin's Throne

Odin lets Frey, the god of sunshine, sit in his throne. While he looks across the land, he sees Gerda,…

Hamlet and his mother

Hamlet and his mother

Hamlet and his mother

Henry II of England (5 March 1133 &ndash; 6 July 1189) ruled as King of England (1154&ndash;1189). Henry was the first of the House of Plantagenet to rule England and was the great-grandson of William the Conqueror. Like his grandfather, Henry I of England, Henry II had an outstanding knowledge of the law. A talented linguist and excellent Latin speaker, he would sit on councils in person whenever possible. His interest in the economy was reflected in his own frugal lifestyle. He dressed casually except when tradition dictated otherwise and ate a sparing diet.

Henry II

Henry II of England (5 March 1133 – 6 July 1189) ruled as King of England (1154–1189). Henry…

Henry III (1 October 1207 &ndash; 16 November 1272) was the son and successor of John "Lackland" as King of England, reigning for fifty-six years from 1216 to his death. Despite his long reign, his personal accomplishments were slim and he was a political and military failure. England, however, prospered during his century and his greatest monument is Westminster, which he made the seat of his government and where he expanded the abbey as a shrine to Edward the Confessor.

Henry III

Henry III (1 October 1207 – 16 November 1272) was the son and successor of John "Lackland" as…

Hera with peacock

Hera

Hera with peacock

Hulda, the Norse goddess of spring sits on the throne in her cave. A shepherd finds this cave and as a reward, Hulda gives him anything in the cave. He chooses the blue flowers she holds in her hand.

Hulda and the Shepherd

Hulda, the Norse goddess of spring sits on the throne in her cave. A shepherd finds this cave and as…

Janus, the Roman god, seated.

Janus

Janus, the Roman god, seated.

Joab's Artifice, from Hans Holbein's series of engravings known as his Bible Cuts.

Joab's Artifice

Joab's Artifice, from Hans Holbein's series of engravings known as his Bible Cuts.

King is shown a painting.

King

King is shown a painting.

King sitting on throne with scepter.

King

King sitting on throne with scepter.

A king or nobleman sits on a modest throne with a footstool and comforts a weeping young man kneeling at his feet. Perhaps a medieval rendering of the return of the prodigal son.

King Comforting a Young Man

A king or nobleman sits on a modest throne with a footstool and comforts a weeping young man kneeling…

John (24 December 1167 &ndash; 19 October 1216) reigned as King of England from 6 April 1199, until his death. John acquired the nicknames of "Lackland" for his lack of an inheritance as the youngest son and for his loss of territory to France, and of "Soft-sword" for his alleged military ineptitude. As a historical figure, John is best known for acquiescing to the nobility and signing Magna Carta, a document that limited his power and that is popularly regarded as an early first step in the evolution of modern democracy.

King John

John (24 December 1167 – 19 October 1216) reigned as King of England from 6 April 1199, until…

King Lear on throne.

King Lear

King Lear on throne.

In Longfellow's poem, an angel took King Robert's place and made Robert the royal jester until he admitted he deserved it.

King Robert of Sicily

In Longfellow's poem, an angel took King Robert's place and made Robert the royal jester until he admitted…

"Bacchus offered Midas his choice of a reward, whatever he might wish. He asked that whatever he might touch should be changed into gold." &mdash;Bulfinch, 1897

Midas

"Bacchus offered Midas his choice of a reward, whatever he might wish. He asked that whatever he might…

"Odin then regulatied the periods of day and night and the seasons by placing in the heavens the sun and moon, and appointing them to their respective courses." &mdash;Bulfinch, 1897

Odin

"Odin then regulatied the periods of day and night and the seasons by placing in the heavens the sun…

Old King Cole was a merry old soul, and a merry old soul was he.

Old King Cole

Old King Cole was a merry old soul, and a merry old soul was he.

Old King Cole was a merry old soul, and a merry old soul was he.

Old King Cole

Old King Cole was a merry old soul, and a merry old soul was he.

"Pluto throned." &mdash;Bulfinch, 1897

Pluto throned

"Pluto throned." —Bulfinch, 1897

Reynard the Fox at King Noble's court again, telling his side of the story to Lion and the other animals.

Reynard the Fox: Reynard's Story

Reynard the Fox at King Noble's court again, telling his side of the story to Lion and the other animals.

King Lion and his queen pardon Reynard the Fox for all of animals' accusations against him. Reynard told them that the animals were guilty of treason and stealing treasure that was rightfully Lion's.

Reynard the Fox: The King's Pardon

King Lion and his queen pardon Reynard the Fox for all of animals' accusations against him. Reynard…

Richard I (8 September 1157 &ndash; 6 April 1199) was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death. He was known as Richard the Lionheart, or C&oelig;ur de Lion, even before his accession, because of his reputation as a great military leader and warrior. Richard was a central Christian commander during the Third Crusade, effectively leading the campaign after the departure of Philip Augustus, and scoring considerable victories against his Muslim counterpart, Saladin.

Richard I

Richard I (8 September 1157 – 6 April 1199) was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death.…

Personification of the city of Rome

Roma

Personification of the city of Rome

"Statue of St Peter in the Bascilica." — Young, 1901

Statue of St Peter

"Statue of St Peter in the Bascilica." — Young, 1901

"Egyptian Statue in black basalt. Heroic size, in the British Museum." &mdash;D'Anvers, 1895

Egyptian statue

"Egyptian Statue in black basalt. Heroic size, in the British Museum." —D'Anvers, 1895

The Ancient Persian Throne was decorated to represent a king sitting on his throne borne-up by slaves.

Ancient Persian Throne

The Ancient Persian Throne was decorated to represent a king sitting on his throne borne-up by slaves.

The Assyrian Throne had a relief design.

Assyrian Throne

The Assyrian Throne had a relief design.

The Egyptian throne had a lotus ornament with the arms formed by the wings of the sacred hawk.

Egyptian Throne

The Egyptian throne had a lotus ornament with the arms formed by the wings of the sacred hawk.

The Greek Throne is a Harpy Monument from Xanthos in Lycia.

Greek Throne

The Greek Throne is a Harpy Monument from Xanthos in Lycia.

"Thrones, a throne, is a Greek word, for which the proper Latin term is Solium. This did not differ from a chair except in being higher, larger, and in all respects more magnificent. On account of its elevation it was always necessarily accompanied by a footstool. The accompanying cut shows two gilded thrones with cushions and drapery, intended to be the thrones of Mars and Venus, which is expressed by the helmet on the one and the dove on the other." &mdash Smith; 1873

Thrones

"Thrones, a throne, is a Greek word, for which the proper Latin term is Solium. This did not differ…

"The following wood-cut from a fictile vase in the Museo Borbonico at Naples, represents Juno seated on a splendid throne, which is elevated on a basement. She holds in her left hand a sceptre, and in her right the apple, which Mercury is about to convey to Paris with a view to the celebrated contest for beauty on Mount Ida. Mercury is distinguished by his talaria, his caduceus, and his petasus thrown behind his back, and hanging b a string. On the right side of the throne is the representation of a tigress or panther." &mdash Smith; 1873

Thrones

"The following wood-cut from a fictile vase in the Museo Borbonico at Naples, represents Juno seated…

"Represents Vesta seated on a throne, with the Palladium of Rome in her hand." &mdash; Anthon, 1891

Coin of Vesta

"Represents Vesta seated on a throne, with the Palladium of Rome in her hand." — Anthon, 1891