Queen of Sheba : treasures from ancient Yemen / edited by St John Simpson.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Simpson, St John.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Sheba, Queen of.

Yemen (Republic)--Antiquities.

Yemen (Republic).

Antiquities.

Sheba.

Sheba, Queen of--Legends.

Genre:

Legends.

Physical Description:

224 pages : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 29 cm

Place of Publication:

London : British Museum Press, 2002.

Summary:

The Queen of Sheba is a famous legendary figure, first referred to in the Old Testament as bringing great riches to the court of Solomon. Later Jewish, Islamic, Ethiopian and Christian traditions dwell on different attributes, giving rise to a rich artistic vein, particularly but not exclusively in Renaissance and later art. The truth is that the Queen of Sheba remains an anonymous figure of legend associated with the land of Saba', one of the great early kingdoms of southern Arabia (present-day Yemen). The ancient caravan kingdoms of this region have fascinated travellers and scholars since the nineteenth century but our understanding of the history and culture of this region has been fundamentally revised as a result of new archaeological discoveries made in recent decades. This exhibition catalogue charts the story from the Queen of Sheba in art and legend to the archaeological evidence for the historic kingdoms that gave rise to the legend. It contains twelve essays by leading scholars from Britain, USA, Canada and Europe. Over 300 items are described and illustrated in colour, ranging from little-known artworks in UK collections to antiquities from Yemen, mostly never previously exhibited in Britain and providing a magnificent record of the riches of southern Arabia.

Contents:

Introduction: Yemen, the Land of the Queen of Saba' / Yusuf M. Abdullah 11

Chapter 1 The Queen of Sheba in Western Popular Cueture 1850-2000 / Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones 12

Chapter 2 Legends of the Queen of Sheba / Fabrizio A. Pennacchietti 31

Chapter 3 Saba' and the Sabaeans / Christian Robin 51

Chapter 4 Kings, Kingdoms and Chronology / Robert Hoyland 67

Chapter 5 Before Sheba / Christopher Edens 80

Chapter 6 Trade, Incense and Perfume / Nigel Groom 88

Chapter 7 Agriculture and the Countryside / Tony J. Wilkinson 102

Chapter 8 Arts, Crafts and Industries / William D. Glanzman 110

Chapter 9 Archtecture / Jean-Francois Breton 142

Chapter 10 Languages and Writing / Francois Bron 153

Chapter 11 Religion / Alexander Sima 161

Chapter 12 Death and Funerary Practices / Burkhard Vogt 180.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0714111511

OCLC:

49239222