The Queen of Sheba is a figure of perennial fascination, 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 of the matter 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 19th century but our understanding of their history and cultures has been fundamentally revised as a result of the archaeological discoveries made in recent decades.
This exhibition catalogue explores the story of the Queen of Sheba in art and some of the myths surrounding her and looks beyond to the intriguing history of Yemen.
Over 250 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. It contains thirteen authoritative essays by leading international scholars thus providing a magnificent record of the riches of southern Arabia.
