An ancient Roman wood and ivory throne has been unearthed at a dig in Herculaneum, an ancient city near Pompeii. Like Pompeii, Herculaneum was destroyed in 79 AD, buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

The throne was found during an excavation in the Villa of the Papyri, the private house formerly belonging to Julius Caesar’s father-in-law, Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus, built on the slope of Mount Vesuvius. The name of the villa derives from the impressive library containing thousands of scrolls of papyrus discovered buried under meters (yards) of volcanic ash after the Vesuvius eruption.”

Other wooden objects have been excavated in nearby Pompeii, but experts have never before found such a significant ceremonial piece. Such thrones have previously only been seen in paintings or sculptures.

Reuters: Rare ancient wooden throne found in Herculaneum

There’s also a very cool page on Pompeii and its violent volcanic end at

Pompeii, Italy - The lost city.