Description
Book SynopsisIn The Wandering Throne of Solomon: Objects and Tales of Kingship in the Medieval Mediterranean Allegra Iafrate analyzes the circulation of artifacts and literary traditions related to king Solomon, particularly among Christians, Jews and Muslims, from the 10th to the 13th century. The author shows how written sources and objects of striking visual impact interact and describes the efforts to match the literary echoes of past wonders with new mirabilia. Using the throne of Solomon as a case-study, she evokes a context where Jewish rabbis, Byzantine rulers, Muslim ambassadors, Christian sovereigns and bishops all seem to share a common imagery in art, technology and kingship.
Trade Review"Overall, this is an extremely intelligent and rich piece of work that demonstrates a deep knowledge of Solomonic lore while continually challenging readers to consider a range of associated questions, ranging from the technological competition between Christian and Islamic cultures to attitudes towards wealth and technology. It also engages meaningfully with abstract notions of the exotic the faraway and the mysterious in a way that is highly illuminating. And perhaps most importantly, Iafrate demonstrates a nuanced and logical approach to the unpacking and interpretation of ideas and symbols that have changed hands many times in their history and which remain – at least to some degree – unknowable." - Nicholas Morton, Nottingham Trent University, in: Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations 29/1 (2018) "Durch ihren vergleichenden Ansatz und die enge Verknüpfung von Texten und Objekten gelingt Iafrate eine überzeugende Analyse, die nicht nur Verflechtung, sondern auch Abgrenzung aufzeigt. Über die angestrebte Perspektive hinaus kann die Studie auch als eine Kultur- und Ideengeschichte der mittelalterlichen Salomo-Rezeption gelesen werden. Sie regt dazu an, die Bedeutung des Throns, der anderen salomonischen Objekte und auch der Person Salomos in bestimmten Aspekten zu vertiefen, z. B. hinsichtlich Auffassungen von Königtum, symbolischer Kommunikation und politischer Rhetorik." - Christian Alexander Neumann, in: QFIAB 98 (2018) "This book is excellent... I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Christian apocrypha and in "Abrahamic" legends more generally. While the author does not speak about a particular text, she reveals much about the world in which the apocrypha were made. Her work highlights the importance of looking beyond religious and even textual boundaries." - Gavin McDowell, in: Apocrypha 28 (2017)
Table of ContentsIntroduction: A Map of the Wanderings Between Legend and Reality: the Place of the Throne Notes on the Mediterranean Circulation of the Throne A Debate of Longue Durée Flying on the Throne: Chronological and Geographical Span of the Journey The Limits of the Mediterranean Chapter one: A King of Small Things An Aesthetics of Prestige: Claiming Solomon’s Treasure The Cup The Pillars The Table The Transfer of Metal-Working Techniques Unfamiliar yet Beautiful: Sabres and Cuirasses Casting Bronze like Hiram: Lamps and Vessels Working “à l’œuvre Salomon”: Spurs, Saddles, Furniture Conclusions Chapter two: The Solomonic Throne in Constantinople The Magnaura Throne The Throne in Byzantine Chronicles A Throne for a New Solomon The Case of the Golden Plane Tree Courtly Automata The Organ as a Soundtrack for the Empire Sharing Elements of Kingship: Silks and Precious Objects in Circulation Conclusions Chapter three: The Throne of the Rabbis Scholarship on the Throne The Throne in Midrashic Literature The Relationship between Legends and Reality Midrash Esther Rabbah Midrash Leviticus Rabbah Targum Sheni: between Ekphrasis and Reality? Enlivening the Scene: the Echoes of the Magnaura The Wandering of the Throne The Reception of Midrashim about the Throne in Other Contexts Conclusions Chapter four: The Throne of Solomon in the Islamic World Jewish Sources for Arabic and Persian Accounts Lions and Griffins: a Lost Solomonic Throne? Building Solomon’s Throne on Persian Royal Ruins: Takht-i Sulaymān Mapping Solomon’s Kingdom Flying Thrones and Flying Carpets Conclusions Chapter five: The Throne of Solomon in the Christian West My Kingdom for a Lion: Papal and Imperial Seats Henry VI and the Sedes Sapientiae Sedes Sapientiae and Divine Wisdom A Seat for the Virgin Rabanus Maurus Guibert de Nogent Nicholas de Clairvaux Richard of Saint-Laurent The Sedes Sapientiae as the Throne of Solomon: a Marian Interference The Throne of Solomon as Spiritual Ladder Conclusions Chapter five: A Literary Abode for the Throne The City of Brass The Jüngere Titurel Conclusions Appendix: Weather Lore and the Throne of Solomon Bibliography Index
