u/MASSIM00

Just wanted to share a close-up of the details on this throne, which Howard Carter found in Tutankhamun's tomb.

The scene on the back shows the queen, Ankhsenamon, putting perfumed ointment on the young king's shoulder.

A few interesting facts about how it was made:

The Clothes: Their white robes are actually inlaid sheets of silver to look like fine linen fabric. It contrasts with the reddish glass used for their skin.

The Sun Rays: If you look closely at the sun disc above them, every single ray ends in a tiny human hand holding out the symbol of life (Ankh).

The Materials: The background and structure are thick gold leaf over wood, while the seat area is a colorful mosaic made of faience and semi-precious stones.

It's currently preserved at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

This is a Maya burial mask made during the Classic Period (around 550–950 AD). It’s completely made out of small pieces of jade mosaic, and the eyes are inlayed with shell and some kind of dark stone. Those two round pieces on the sides are matching earspools (basically large earrings).

What was it used for?

In Maya culture, jade was like the most precious material available, even more valuable than gold. It symbolized water, fertility, and life.

These masks were custom made for elite royals and rulers. When they died, the mask was placed directly over the kings face before burial. The idea was that the jade would preserve the rulers soul, give them a divine look, and protect them while traveling through the underworld into the afterlife.