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Queen of Sheba Biography

Royalty / Biblical Figure

Queen of Sheba was an ancient name for Abyssinia, a kingdom on the Red Sea in the vicinity of modern Ethiopia and Yemen. The Queen of Sheba is best known for a story in the Bible's book of Kings: at the head of a caravan of riches, she visits Israel's King Solomon to test his legendary wisdom. After Solomon successfully answers her riddles, the queen showers him with gifts. According to Ethiopian tradition the queen returned to Sheba and bore a son by Solomon, Menelik I, who was the beginning of the Ethiopian royal dynasty.

Other Biblical figures include Adam, Eve and Jacob.

Four Good Links

Makeda, Queen of Sheba

Lengthy and detailed account of her life and meeting with Solomon, plus fabulous links

Entranced by the Queen of Sheba

2002 Time magazine piece about a British Museum exhibition

The Book of Kings

The Worldwide Study Bible offers many versions of 1 Kings chapter 10, the Queen of Sheba story

Searching for the Queen of Sheba

1999 BBC account of new findings in Africa

Vital Stats

Birth

c. 10th century B.C.

Birthplace

Sheba (now Yemen or Ethiopia)

Death

c. 10th century B.C.

Best Known As

The wealthy queen who tested Solomon