The Sun Throne () also known as the Peacock Throne () is an Imperial

throne A throne is the seat of state of a potentate or dignitary, especially the seat occupied by a sovereign (or viceroy A viceroy () is an official who reigns over a polity in the name of and as the representative of the monarch of the territory ...

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

. A radiant sun disk on its headboard and a consort of

Fath-Ali Shah Qajar Fath-Ali Shah Qajar (; 5 August 1772 – 24 October 1834) was the second Shah of Qajar Iran. He reigned from 17 June 1797 until his death on 24 October 1834. His reign saw the irrevocable ceding of Iran's northern territories in the Caucasus, com ...

give the throne each of its names respectively. The throne has the shape of a platform, similar to the Marble Throne in

Golestan Palace The Golestan Palace (, ''Kākh-e Golestān''), also transliterated as the Gulistan Palace and sometimes translated as the Rose Garden Palace from Persian language, was built in the 16th century, renovated in the 18th century and finally rebuilt ...

. 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

Khalili Collection Islamic Art laq-0020a-front

It was constructed for Fath-Ali Shah Qajar,

Shah Shāh (; ) is a royal title meaning "king" in the Persian language.Yarshater, Ehsa, ''Iranian Studies'', vol. XXII, no. 1 (1989) Though chiefly associated with the monarchs of Iran, it was also used to refer to the leaders of numerous Per ...

, in the early nineteenth century and was used as the coronation throne thereafter. He took Tavous

Khanum Khanum, Hanum, Hanım, Hanem, Khanom, or Khanoum (Uzbek language, Uzbek: Xonim/Хоним, , Mongolian language, Mongolian: Ханым, , , , , , , ) is a female royal family, royal and aristocracy, aristocratic title that was originally derived t ...

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. Owing to her name, the throne later received the name "Peacock Throne". It was also theorised that parts of the plundered Mughal

Peacock Throne The Peacock Throne ( Hindustani: ''Mayūrāsana'', Sanskrit: मयूरासन, Urdu: تخت طاؤس, , ''Takht-i Tāvūs'') was the imperial throne of Hindustan. The throne is named after the dancing peacocks at its rear and was the seat ...

were re-used, such as the legs or other parts; however, no conclusive proof exists. Not a single element on the Sun Throne features a peacock. The Lion and Sun was the ancient symbol of kingship in Iran. 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

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (26 October 1919 – 27 July 1980) was the last List of monarchs of Iran, Shah of Iran, ruling from 1941 to 1979. He succeeded his father Reza Shah and ruled the Imperial State of Iran until he was overthrown by the ...

, carried the title '' Aryamehr'' (Light of the Aryans), which was another connotation for the sun. Until 1980 the Sun Throne was located in the Mirror Hall of

. 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

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

History

See Also

References

Further reading

External links