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.^[1] Many of the thrones are similarly styled, flanked by cherubim-headed winged lions on either side.^[2] 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).^[2]

Byblos

Tayibeh

Ain Baal

Umm al-Amad

Temple of Eshmun

Sidon

Tyre

Places associated with the Thrones of Astarte

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

List of Thrones

Image	Period	Location found	Current location	Inscription	Description	First published
	Hellenistic	Byblos	National Museum of Beirut	none	On the front, two figures pouring a libation into a flower. On the seat, rectangular anathyrosis for placing an object.[3]	Dunand[4]
	Hellenistic	Sidon	National Museum of Beirut	none	On the front, a Phoenician palmette. On the seat, a large rectangular mortise used to fix an object. Backrest without decoration.[3]	1941 Dunand[5]
	Roman	Sidon	National Museum of Beirut	Greek inscription	Seat very tilted, unable to hold an object. The back shows a globe inside a crescent.[3]	1924[6]
		Sidon	Louvre	none	Naiskos 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.[3]	1933[7]
		Sidon	Istanbul Archaeology Museums	none	Naiskos 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.[3]	[8]
	2nd century BCE	Khirbet et-Tayibeh, near Ras al-Ain near Tyre	Louvre	Phoenician dedication to Astarte, known as KAI 17	On the throne, two stelae with reliefs, depicting two standing officiants.[3]	1907 Ronzevalle[9][10][11]
	Hellenistic	Ain Baal near Tyre	National Museum of Beirut	none	Seat contains a stele or baetyl[3]
	Hellenistic	Region of Tyre	National Museum of Beirut	none	Seat contains a stele or baetyl[3]
	4th century BCE	Umm al-Amad	Louvre	none	On the front, a Phoenician palmette[3]	1860, Renan[12]
		Umm al-Amad	National Museum of Beirut	none	The front is broken. Horizontal seat, rounded front. Backrest without decoration. Large throne which could fit a person.[3]	Dunand
		Temple of Eshmun	Temple of Eshmun	none		Dunand
		Temple of Eshmun	National Museum of Beirut	none		Dunand
	Hellenistic	Unknown	National Museum of Beirut	none

Gallery

• 
  A similar throne depicted on the Ahiram sarcophagus^[13]
• 
  KAI 17 (photo)
• 
  KAI 17 (copy)
• 
  Ivory plaque with Throne of Astarte
• 
  Punic statue from Tunisia (Sanctuaire de Thinissut)
• 
  Scarab with Throne of Astarte