Golden Throne of Tutankhamun

Ancient Egyptian The Golden Throne of Tutankhamun is one of ancient Egypt's most intimate royal portraits, showing the young pharaoh with his wife Ankhesenamun in a tender domestic scene. Created around 1323 BCE, the wooden throne is covered in gold and silver sheet, inlaid with glass, faience, and semiprecious stones. The backrest panel depicts Ankhesenamun anointing her husband with perfumed oil under the rays of the Aten sun disk.

Howard Carter described finding the throne as one of the tomb's most moving moments. The image reveals Amarna-period style with its elongated figures and naturalistic poses, suggesting the throne was made early in Tutankhamun's reign before he restored traditional religion. The queen's name originally read "Ankhesenaten" but was later altered. Lion heads protect the armrests, and the legs end in feline paws.

The throne now dazzles visitors at the Grand Egyptian Museum, centerpiece of the complete Tutankhamun collection.