In pictures: Roman throne unearthed

The remains of a Roman throne have been found in the ruins of Herculaneum, today part of Naples, which was destroyed by an eruption in AD79.

The remains were found buried 25m (82ft) below ground, near Villa dei Papiri, believed to have been the residence of Julius Caesar's father-in-law.

The name of the villa derives from the 1,800 miraculously preserved rolls of papyrus containing Greek writings, discovered at the site.

The throne, recovered from under thick layers of ash, features ivory bas-reliefs depicting Greek mythological figures absorbed in the Roman pantheon, like Attis and Dionysus.

The throne is undergoing a lengthy process of restoration, with archaeologists hoping to find more artefacts.

It is the first original throne from the Roman era to survive, but only the legs and back were recovered.

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