Ẹrhẹ are round stools with two intertwined serpents as the supporting column. Aside the two serpents, which point in two different directions (up and down), other creatures such as frogs, leopards, roosters and human figures are seen on these stools. The Obah n’uhi pattern of design (which has no beginning or end) is seen at the top of these stools, which shows the supremacy of the Ọba (king/emperor). These are ceremonial stools used by the Benin chiefs when performing rituals in ancestral shrines. According to oral tradition, Ogiso Ẹrhẹ was the first to use a throne.

In Benin Kingdom, there are two different kinds of stools with ceremonial and ritual functions – the Ẹrhẹ and 

. The Ẹrhẹ has a circular seat and base with a central supporting column and can be cast in brass or carved in wood. The Agba is rectangular in shape, with a carved panel forming the seat and four carved interconnected panels that serve as the legs. Agba may be used by the Ọba, chiefs and some priests (Hess, 1983, p.41

). Although a third kind of stool, Ekete, has been identified in literature (e.g. Ezra 1992, p.263

), our own research indicates that it means ‘throne’ and can be used to describe any kind of stool that the Ọba may sit upon. Thus, both Agba and Erhe could be Ekete as well (Hess, 1983, p.41

Ẹrhẹ

In Benin Kingdom, there are two different kinds of stool that have ceremonial and ritual functions, these are the Agba and Erhe. Although a 3rd kind of stool, called 

, has been identified in literature (e.g. Ezra 1992, p.263

), our own research indicated this word means ‘throne’ and can be used to describe any kind of stool that the Ọba may sit upon, Thus both the Agba and Erhe could in fact be _Ekete _as well. The Agba is rectangular in shape, with a carved panel forming the seat and four carved interconnected panels that serve as the legs. Agba may be used by the Ọba, chiefs and some priests (Hess, 1983, p.41

). The Erhe is formed of a circular seat and base with a central supporting column and can be cast in brass or carved in wood.

Stool

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The British Museum’s archives are held in various locations across the institution. The items listed here aim to give an overview of the main locations where relevant archival and photographic material relating to objects from the Kingdom of Benin is housed. Key areas relevant for cultural objects from the Kingdom of Benin are: Corporate Archives; Department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas archives; Department of Britain, Europe and Prehistory archives; and the Anthropology Library and Research Centre.

Website

Department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas 

Online Catalogue

Library & Archive

British Museum

Internal Data (eng)

Wikidata Link

More info

Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, London

Museum

Donor

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