What did the throne of Roman emperors look like?
We do not know what thrones the first kings of Ancient Rome sat on. Most likely, they were similar to the royal thrones of the Romans’ closest neighbors — the Etruscans. After Rome became a republic, the Romans fundamentally rejected thrones and other attributes of monarchy. The highest officials of the Roman Republic sat on curule chairs. This piece of furniture was borrowed from the Greeks. In Greece, it was called “diphros okladios” and was a folding chair with crossing legs under the seat.
Essentially, the curule chair is an ancient version of a folding stool without a backrest. A very simple and democratic piece of furniture, which was supposed to emphasize the popular nature of Roman authority, devoid of any ostentatious luxury. Moreover, the folding chair was convenient to carry with oneself on campaign. The Roman name “sedia curulis” came from “magistratus curulis.” This was the collective term for the highest officials of the Roman Republic. Consuls, censors, praetors, and curule aediles had the right to possess a curule chair. Among the priests, only the Pontifex Maximus and members of the college of priests had the right to the chair. A slave carried the curule chair behind the official so that he could conduct municipal affairs sitting in comfort.
