Final answer:
In ancient Egyptian culture, the lion symbol on royal thrones reflects the king's divine status and connection with the sun and horizon, reinforcing the pharaoh's role as a divine protector and ruler.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lion symbol on Tutankhamun's Golden Throne not only represents the king's royal power but also has a deeper connection with divinity and the afterlife in ancient Egyptian culture. The lion is affiliated with the sun and the horizon, symbolizing the king's status as a divine entity and protector of the cosmos. This iconography is a reflection of the ancient Egyptian belief in the pharaoh's god-like nature, reflected in the portrayal of the pharaoh with the skin of gold, symbolizing their divine form in the afterlife. Also noteworthy, in many depictions, the lion's body is associated with the pharaoh's head, a recurring theme highlighting the ruler's strength and vitality. Such representations reinforced the pharaoh's divine right to rule, further emphasized by sacred iconography such as the presence of gods like Horus, and the pharaoh clutching symbols of power like the crook and flail.