What did the Golden Stool look like?

What did the Golden Stool look like?

The Golden Stool is a curved seat 46 cm high with a platform 61 cm wide and 30 cm deep. Its entire surface is inlaid with gold and hung with bells to warn the king of impending danger. It has not been seen by many and only the king, queen, true prince Ofosu Sefa Boakye, and trusted advisers know the hiding place.

Where is the Ashanti Golden Stool now?

Today the Golden Stool is housed in the Asante royal palace in Kumasi, Ghana.

What was the importance of Golden Stool to the Ashanti?

The most important and sacred Asante stool is the Golden Stool. It represents the authority of the Asantehene (king), enshrines the soul of the nation, and symbolizes the kingdom’s unity. Made of solid gold, the Golden Stool never touches the ground; it is carried in processionals and has its own throne.

What is attached to the Golden Stool?

Two bells are tied to each end of it representing divine spirits or kings. Contains intricate designes in midsection connecting the seat to the base. Seen with small figures attached to the seat. Believed to contain sunum, which is the soul if the people.

Who hid the Golden Stool?

Hidden by the Ashanti, it was discovered by a group of African railroad builders in 1920. They stripped it of its gold ornaments and were tried by the Ashanti and sentenced to death. British colonial authorities intervened, however, and they were exiled from the Gold Coast Colony.

Is the Golden Stool from God or Gods?

credit for introducing the legendary Golden Stool, which, according to Asante tradition, was brought down from heaven by the priest and, as the repository of the spirit of the nation, became the symbol of the mystical bond between all Asante.

Who Won the War of the Golden Stool?

British victory

Does the Ashanti Golden Stool still exist?

Restored to its ceremonial place, the Golden Stool continues to be used in rituals crowning the Asantehene, although he is now considered a traditional ruler without political power or influence. Nonetheless, the Golden Stool remains a cherished symbol of the former Ashanti Empire.

Is Ashanti a Ghanaian?

The Ashanti live in central Ghana in the Rain forests of West Africa approximately 150 miles away from the coast. The Ashanti are a major ethnic group of the Akans (Ashanti and Fanti) in Ghana, Ghana is a fairly new nation, barely more than 50 years old, and Ghana was previously called the Gold Coast.

What is the Ashanti golden stool made of?

Beginning with Osei Tutu I, the Ashanti have believed that the Golden Stool houses the soul of the Ashanti nation. The Stool, made of gold, stands 18 inches high, 24 inches long, and 12 inches wide. It was never allowed to touch the ground and was considered so sacred that no one was allowed to sit on it.

What is the Golden Stool in Ghana?

The Golden stool in Ghana is held with high esteem. It has some guidelines, including the following: The Ashanti stool must not touch the ground. A blanket should always be underneath it. Only the king is permitted to handle it. Hence, they can only bring it to him on a pillow.

What is the legend of the Golden Stool?

The legend also tells that Anotchi called the divine Golden Stool a gift from the god Nyame to the Ashanti people. As the magician said, the stool would ensure good health, prosperity, and success to all the people of the kingdom as long as the sacred object was kept safely in the royal palace.

What is the significance of the Sacred chair of Ashanti?

The sacred chair represents the power of the Ashanti empire. Britain wanted it to have full control and authority over the people. The stool sitting by the king during a public event.