Gheorghe LAZAROVICI
Cluj-Napoca
Cornelia-Magda LAZAROVICI
Institutul de Arheologie, Academia Română, Iași
In this study the authors would like to extend throne notion with examples from religious life of Neolithic and Copper Age communities. Throne with its symbols is present starting with the earliest Neolithic horizons of Anatolia until center of Europe, in 7-5 millennia. We have analyzed some important discoveries related with monumental pieces from sanctuaries, as well as those discovered in community altar or domestic sanctuaries. These monumental pieces from sanctuaries reflect the place of the divinity or her representation in the sanctuary and their role in religious ceremonies. For many of the presented pieces we offer new hypothesis and opinions regarding their functionality. We also refer to some idols types that are sitting on thrones representing divinities or priestess that represent the image of the divinity.
Key words: etnoarchaeology, thrones, sanctuaries, functionality, interpretations