King Solomon’s Mythic Duality

King Solomon stands out as a figure of enduring significance across a wide range of religious, literary, and folkloric traditions. In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, he is depicted as a wise and divinely guided ruler endowed with extraordinary wisdom and understanding, as well as the ability to communicate with animals, spirits, and other supernatural beings. Beyond his historical and religious significance, Solomon also appears in many folk tales, such as the tale of Shahmaran (or Yamlika). In this tale, Solomon is portrayed as a king sleeping in a cave on an island beyond the seven seas. Similar figures appear in King Arthur of English legends and Frederick Barbarossa of German folklore. However, in both the Shahmaran story and other narratives, Solomon is also depicted as the ruler of all birds. In this article, I argue that the first role mentioned –that of the king sleeping in the cave– represents a woman-centered culture, while the second –that of the ruler of birds– represents Solomon’s patriarchal dominion over the goddess

Dominion · Folklore · German · Mythology · Ruler · Ancient Near East History · Eurasian Exchange Networks · Historical and Architectural Studies

• The Forge and the Crucible

  Mircea Eliade•The Forge and the Crucible•1979

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