The Queen of Sheba (Radio Edit)
2Digest
This episode of Dead To Me delves into the fascinating and complex history of the Queen of Sheba, a figure whose story has been told and retold across centuries and cultures. The episode begins by establishing the limited biographical information available about the Queen, primarily drawing from the Hebrew Bible and the writings of Flavius Josephus. The discussion then explores how the Queen's story has been adapted and reinterpreted by different writers and cultures, including Christian scholars like Origin of Alexandria and Muslim writers during the time of Islam. The episode highlights how the Queen's story has been used to reflect societal values and power dynamics, particularly in relation to gender, religion, and ethnicity. The episode concludes with a discussion of the Queen's enduring legacy and how her story continues to be debated and reinterpreted in the modern world.
Outlines
Introduction
This Chapter introduces the podcast, Dead To Me, and its host, Greg Jenner, a public historian, author, and broadcaster. The episode's focus is on the legendary Queen of Sheba, and the guests are introduced: Dr. Jillian Stinchkum, a research associate specializing in religious, biblical, and Jewish studies, and Sadiah Asmat, a stand-up comedian, author, and broadcaster. The episode begins with a lighthearted discussion about the guests' knowledge of the Queen of Sheba, revealing that Sadiah Asmat is unfamiliar with the figure, having only encountered the name through cat food advertisements.
The Queen of Sheba in the Hebrew Bible
This Chapter delves into the earliest written records of the Queen of Sheba, found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). The episode discusses the passages in First Kings 10 and 2 Chronicles 9, which describe the Queen as a wealthy ruler who visits the court of King Solomon. The episode explores the historical context of Solomon's reign, highlighting his wealth, power, and the construction of the temple and walls of Jerusalem. The Queen's visit to Solomon is presented as a test of his wisdom, and the episode discusses the gifts she bestows upon him, including 120 talents of gold, spices, and precious stones. The episode also explores the geographical location of Sheba, suggesting that it may be located in modern-day Yemen or Ethiopia.
The Queen of Sheba in Josephus' Antiquities
This Chapter examines the Queen of Sheba's appearance in Flavius Josephus' Antiquities, a first-century CE history of the Jewish people. Josephus gives the Queen the name Nikola and describes her as ruler of both Sarba in Ethiopia and Egypt. The episode explores the historical context of Josephus' writing, highlighting his attempt to argue for the antiquity and importance of the Jewish people to a Roman audience. The episode explains how Josephus' inclusion of Egypt and Ethiopia in the Queen's story was intended to elevate the status of the Jewish people by associating them with powerful and respected civilizations.
The Queen of Sheba in the Song of Songs
This Chapter explores the Queen of Sheba's connection to the Song of Songs, a poem from the Hebrew Bible. The episode discusses Origin of Alexandria, a third-century CE Christian scholar, who interpreted the Song of Songs as a representation of the Queen's love for Solomon. Origin's interpretation connects the Queen's Ethiopian origin to a line in the poem describing the speaker as black and beautiful, marking the first written example of the Queen being explicitly identified as a black woman. The episode also explores the poem's sexually suggestive content and how it has been interpreted differently within Jewish and Christian traditions.
Keywords
Queen of Sheba
A legendary queen who appears in the Hebrew Bible, the Quran, and various other historical and literary texts. She is often depicted as a wise and powerful ruler who visits the court of King Solomon. Her story has been interpreted and reinterpreted across cultures and time periods, reflecting shifting societal values and power dynamics.
Solomon
A biblical king of Israel, known for his wisdom and wealth. He is often depicted as a powerful and just ruler who built the temple and walls of Jerusalem. The Queen of Sheba's visit to his court is a central event in her story, and her relationship with him has been interpreted in various ways throughout history.
Hebrew Bible
The collection of sacred texts that forms the foundation of Judaism. It is also known as the Old Testament in Christianity. The Hebrew Bible contains the earliest written records of the Queen of Sheba, describing her as a wealthy ruler who visits the court of King Solomon.
Flavius Josephus
A first-century CE Jewish historian who wrote Antiquities, a history of the Jewish people. In his work, Josephus gives the Queen of Sheba the name Nikola and describes her as ruler of both Sarba in Ethiopia and Egypt. His account reflects his attempt to argue for the antiquity and importance of the Jewish people to a Roman audience.
Origin of Alexandria
A third-century CE Christian scholar who wrote commentaries on scriptural texts, including the Song of Songs. He interpreted the Song of Songs as a representation of the Queen of Sheba's love for Solomon, connecting her Ethiopian origin to a line in the poem describing the speaker as black and beautiful.
Song of Songs
A poem from the Hebrew Bible that describes the love between an unnamed man and woman. It is known for its sexually suggestive content and has been interpreted differently within Jewish and Christian traditions. Origin of Alexandria interpreted the poem as a representation of the Queen of Sheba's love for Solomon.
Islam
A monotheistic religion that originated in the 7th century CE. The Queen of Sheba's story appears in the Quran, where she is depicted as a ruler who recognizes Solomon's greatness and converts to the worship of the one true God. Her story has been interpreted in various ways within Islamic tradition.
Ethiopia
A country in East Africa with a long and rich history. The Queen of Sheba is often associated with Ethiopia, and her story has been incorporated into Ethiopian folklore and national identity. The Ethiopian Kebranagast, a selective history of Ethiopia, claims that the Queen ruled over the country and that her son, Menelik, was the ancestor of the ruling Solomonic dynasty.
Yemen
A country in Southwest Asia located on the Arabian Peninsula. The Queen of Sheba is also often associated with Yemen, and some scholars believe that Sheba may be a variation of the name Saba, a city-state located on the Red Sea coast of Yemen.
Menelik I
The first emperor of Ethiopia, claimed as the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. He is considered the founder of the Solomonic dynasty, which ruled Ethiopia until the 20th century. His lineage is a central element in Ethiopian folklore and national identity.
Q&A
What are the earliest written records of the Queen of Sheba?
The earliest written records of the Queen of Sheba are found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), specifically in First Kings 10 and 2 Chronicles 9. These passages describe her as a wealthy ruler who visits the court of King Solomon.
How has the Queen of Sheba's story been interpreted and reinterpreted across different cultures and time periods?
The Queen of Sheba's story has been adapted and reinterpreted by different writers and cultures, reflecting shifting societal values and power dynamics. For example, Christian scholars like Origin of Alexandria interpreted her story in relation to the Song of Songs, while Muslim writers during the time of Islam used her story to explore themes of difference and power. The Queen's story has also been incorporated into Ethiopian folklore and national identity, claiming her as an ancestor of the ruling Solomonic dynasty.
What are some of the key themes that emerge from the different interpretations of the Queen of Sheba's story?
Key themes that emerge from the different interpretations of the Queen of Sheba's story include gender, religion, and ethnicity. The Queen's story has been used to explore debates about whether or not women could be good rulers, the nature of religious authority, and the relationship between different cultures and ethnicities.
What is the significance of the Queen of Sheba's story in the modern world?
The Queen of Sheba's story continues to be debated and reinterpreted in the modern world. Her story has been used as a symbol of African-American pride and has been featured in various forms of media, including operas, poetry, and films. The lack of direct evidence about her life has led to ongoing discussions about the nature of historical evidence and the role of narrative in shaping our understanding of the past.
What is the significance of the Queen of Sheba's story in Ethiopian culture?
The Queen of Sheba's story is deeply embedded in Ethiopian culture. The Ethiopian Kebranagast, a selective history of Ethiopia, claims that the Queen ruled over the country and that her son, Menelik, was the ancestor of the ruling Solomonic dynasty. This lineage is a central element in Ethiopian folklore and national identity.
What is the significance of the Queen of Sheba's story in Islamic tradition?
The Queen of Sheba's story appears in the Quran, where she is depicted as a ruler who recognizes Solomon's greatness and converts to the worship of the one true God. Her story has been interpreted in various ways within Islamic tradition, often highlighting themes of difference and power.
What is the significance of the Queen of Sheba's story in Jewish tradition?
The Queen of Sheba's story is found in the Hebrew Bible, where she is depicted as a wealthy ruler who visits the court of King Solomon. Her story has been interpreted in various ways within Jewish tradition, often highlighting themes of wisdom, power, and the relationship between different cultures.
What is the significance of the Queen of Sheba's story in Christian tradition?
The Queen of Sheba's story is found in the Hebrew Bible, which is also part of the Old Testament in Christianity. Christian scholars like Origin of Alexandria interpreted her story in relation to the Song of Songs, connecting her Ethiopian origin to a line in the poem describing the speaker as black and beautiful.
What is the significance of the Queen of Sheba's story in relation to gender?
The Queen of Sheba's story has been used to explore debates about whether or not women could be good rulers. Her story has been interpreted in various ways, sometimes highlighting her strength and wisdom, while other times emphasizing her sexuality and her need to conform to stereotypical gender norms.
Show Notes
Greg Jenner is joined by Dr Jillian Stinchcomb and comedian Sadia Azmat to learn all about the legendary Queen of Sheba. From her first appearance in the Hebrew Bible, the Queen of Sheba has fascinated Jewish, Muslim and Christian writers. But do we know anything about her as a historical figure? And how has her story been told, used and reinterpreted throughout history? This episode traces the legends written about the Queen of Sheba across Europe, Africa and the Middle East from 600 BCE to today, exploring the ambiguous and contradictory depictions of her as a wise and powerful ruler, an exoticised and seductive woman, the founding member of an Ethiopian royal dynasty, and a possible half-demon!
This is a radio edit of the original podcast episode. For the full-length version, please look further back in the feed.
Research by: Jon Mason
Written by: Jon Mason, Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner
Produced by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner
Audio Producer: Steve Hankey
Senior Producer: Emma Nagouse
Table of contents
United States
