Prince's Stone, Ancient ceremonial throne in Klagenfurt, Austria
The Prince's Stone is an inverted ancient Roman Ionic column base displayed in the Heraldic Hall of the Klagenfurt Landhaus provincial building. It measures about 1 meter (3 feet) across and was returned to this location in 2006 after a period in the Carinthian State Museum.
The stone originated from the Roman city of Virunum and became the installation site for Carantanian princes and later Carinthian dukes during the Early Middle Ages. It served as a symbol of power transfer and remained central to ruler ceremonies for centuries.
Peasant representatives sat on the stone during ruler installations and questioned the new leader in Slovenian about their plans and character. This questioning ritual reflected the expectation that power came with responsibility to the people.
The stone can be viewed in the Heraldic Hall of the Landhaus, where it is on display and easily accessible. Visitors should check the building's opening hours, as it functions as a provincial government building with regular office operations.
The stone appears on Slovenian 2-cent euro coins since 2005, sparking discussions between Austria and Slovenia about shared cultural heritage. Its presence on another nation's currency demonstrates how deeply the monument is tied to the regional identity of both countries.
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