Full text of the opera online at Archive.Org!

from Ali Karjoo-Ravary: “From “#Iranian painting of #Solomon's court. The #jinn surround him and the Queen of Sheba is on the right #Tehran #Iran”

A Kashan Pictorial Silk Rug, 1850s, depicting King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba

Scenes from the Sheba cycle in Kebra Nagast 

“A ruler of the Sabeans contemporary with King Solomon (tenth century BCE), whom she visited to test his wisdom. Impressed with his wealth as well as his wisdom, she blessed both Solomon and the God of Israel for such splendor. She gave Solomon 120 talents of gold in addition to other precious items, and Solomon in his turn bestowed rich presents upon her prior to her return to her own land. She is mentioned by Jesus (as the ‘queen of the South’) in Matthew 12:42.”

Queen Of Sheba approaching King Solomon’s Throne.

The Bible states that King Solomon held a fortune that dwarfed any and every person who lived before him, making him the wealthiest man in the world. Each year, Solomon received 25 tons of gold. This did not include income derived from business, trade, nor the annual tribute paid to him by all of the kings and governors of Arabia. King Solomon’s throne was coated in pure gold and inlaid with ivory. It had 6 stairs, 12 lion statues (1 on either side of each step) and a solid gold foot stool. Two larger lion statues stood on either side of the throne.

All of the goblets and household articles in Solomon’s palace were pure gold. King Solomon was reportedly so rich, that during the years of his reign over Jerusalem, his immense wealth caused silver to be considered of little value and as common as rocks. As such, nothing in Solomon’s palace was made of silver. The same devaluation was noted of cedar wood; a lumber which, at the time, was considered to be of great value and significance, both monetarily and non, for many societies throughout the region and beyond.

#RichBeyondRiches

Gina Lollobrigida’s various costumes worn in “Solomon and Sheba” (1959)

Bilkis, also known as Makeda, or the Queen of Sheba, and the first ethiopian queen. Drawing and colored version together for today!

The Queen of Sheba Kneeling before King Solomon, Johann Friedrich August Tischbein, 2nd half of 18th century

from Origen of Alexandria’s commentary on the Song of Songs

Ethiopian illustration of the meeting of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba

Dirck van Delen, “King Solomon receives the Queen of Sheba at his court”

Gina Lollobrigida’s pagan dance in Solomon and Sheba (1959)