Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Clivedurdle · 02-04-2005, 02:39 PM

Quote:

In Search of Myths and Heroes
Fri 4 Feb, 9:00 pm*-*10:00 pm**60mins

The Queen of Sheba

In this new series, intrepid historian Michael Wood goes in search of the world's greatest myths.

The first journey aims to find the Queen of Sheba, one of the world's most fascinating heroines. She's been portrayed as Goddess, demon, femme fatale - but did she really exist?

Starting on Easter night in Jerusalem, the myth of Sheba takes Michael Wood on a quest for clues around the Red Sea, from Egypt to Eritrea and Ethiopia, and on to the earliest civilisation of Arabia in the Yemen - to reveal the surprising truth behind the legend.

Anyone know more about this? The Ethiopian Church believes it has the ark of the covenant given by Solomon to Sheba, they had a child together who became king, so Ethiopians believe they are one of the tribes of Israel, Sheba may actually be from Southern Yemen, myrrh and frankinsense seem very important. Important bits in the Koran.

What are we reasonably certain about in all of this? It feels that Q of S may have been far more powerful than Solomon.

exile · 02-04-2005, 03:22 PM

Watched the program.

There are 3 stories about the Queen of Sheba - the
one recorded in the Ethiopian Book of Kings, the one
in the OT, and the one in the Qu'ran (derived from pre-Islamic Arabic
legends). In the way of these things there are certain similarities
but also differences between the stories.

Ethiopian kings traced their decent from the Queen of Sheba.

The Arabs also refer to her as Queen of the South - which is the name of a
Scottish soccer team!

The Queen was reputed to have hairy legs (and possibly goat's feet)
and Solomon provided her with a cure (presumably not hot wax!).
The Qu'ran claims the depilation as a reward for her conversion to
the Jewish faith.

Eldarion Lathria · 02-04-2005, 03:24 PM

By Yemeni tradition Sheba was Bilqis, Queen of Marib and Saba. Yemen was highly civilized three thousand years ago, and on important trade routes. The visit of Bilqis to Solomon (if it ever happened,) or her ambassador (as more likely) was probably a hard boiled haggle over trade rights and alliances.

Eldarion Lathria

Anat · 02-04-2005, 08:15 PM

AFAIK there is no evidence for the involvement of Judah in international trade prior to the late 8th century BCE.

As for Ethiopia - the Ethiopian Jews, Beth-Israel, claim to be descendants of Solomon and Queen of Sheba.

Clivedurdle · 02-05-2005, 10:53 AM

Do the tales of Sheba help with fixing the reality and importance of Solomon?

Is it all myth and stories or is there something behind it?

Anat · 02-05-2005, 10:42 PM

Finkelstein (The Bible Unearthed) thinks the basis for the story about the visit of the queen of Sheba is Judah's participation in the Arab trade in the days of Manasseh (7th century BCE), except Manasseh was portrayed as the most wicked idolatrous king Judah ever had, the king whose sins made the exile inevitable, so his achievements were rolled back to previous kings.

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02-04-2005, 03:22 PM	#2
exile Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: England Posts: 735	Watched the program. There are 3 stories about the Queen of Sheba - the one recorded in the Ethiopian Book of Kings, the one in the OT, and the one in the Qu'ran (derived from pre-Islamic Arabic legends). In the way of these things there are certain similarities but also differences between the stories. Ethiopian kings traced their decent from the Queen of Sheba. The Arabs also refer to her as Queen of the South - which is the name of a Scottish soccer team! The Queen was reputed to have hairy legs (and possibly goat's feet) and Solomon provided her with a cure (presumably not hot wax!). The Qu'ran claims the depilation as a reward for her conversion to the Jewish faith.

02-04-2005, 03:24 PM	#3
Eldarion Lathria Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Atlantis Posts: 2,449	By Yemeni tradition Sheba was Bilqis, Queen of Marib and Saba. Yemen was highly civilized three thousand years ago, and on important trade routes. The visit of Bilqis to Solomon (if it ever happened,) or her ambassador (as more likely) was probably a hard boiled haggle over trade rights and alliances. Eldarion Lathria

02-04-2005, 08:15 PM	#4
Anat Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: home Posts: 3,715	AFAIK there is no evidence for the involvement of Judah in international trade prior to the late 8th century BCE. As for Ethiopia - the Ethiopian Jews, Beth-Israel, claim to be descendants of Solomon and Queen of Sheba.

02-05-2005, 10:53 AM	#5
Clivedurdle Contributor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: London UK Posts: 16,024	Do the tales of Sheba help with fixing the reality and importance of Solomon? Is it all myth and stories or is there something behind it?

02-05-2005, 10:42 PM	#6
Anat Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: home Posts: 3,715	Finkelstein (The Bible Unearthed) thinks the basis for the story about the visit of the queen of Sheba is Judah's participation in the Arab trade in the days of Manasseh (7th century BCE), except Manasseh was portrayed as the most wicked idolatrous king Judah ever had, the king whose sins made the exile inevitable, so his achievements were rolled back to previous kings.

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