Il trono imperiale: origini e sviluppo

This dissertation examines the introduction and development of the imperial throne from the late Republican period to the sixth century CE through the analysis of literary sources, coinage, monumental reliefs, sculpture, and ceremonial texts. Particular attention is devoted to the relationship between imperial representations and traditional iconographies of enthroned gods, showing how the ornate seat initially functioned as a symbol associated with divine power that was adopted in imperial imagery through processes of divine assimilation. Special emphasis is placed on the representations of the Augustae, whose images reveal a particularly close relationship with divine iconographic models. The study focuses especially on the transformations that occurred during the Tetrarchic and Constantinian periods, when the throne became increasingly integrated into the visual language of imperial authority. Particular attention is given to the underlying connections linking enthronement, imperial ideology, Christian imagery and the symbolic value of precious materials. The later sections examine the different formal typologies of the imperial throne attested between the fifth and sixth centuries, the parallels established between the enthroned Augusta and the Virgin Mary, and the role of the ornate seat within court ceremonial. The study demonstrates how the throne underwent a profound semantic transformation, evolving from a symbol alluding to divine functions into one of the most effective emblems of imperial power.