Sheba: Through the Desert in Search of the Legendary Queen [Hardcover]

Nicholas Clapp (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 24, 2001

Three thousand years ago, a dusky queen swept into the court of King Solomon, and from that time to the present day, her tale has been told and retold. Who was this queen? Did she really exist? In a quixotic odyssey that takes him to Ethiopia, Arabia, Israel, and even a village in France, Nicholas Clapp seeks the underlying truth behind the multifaceted myth of the queen of Sheba.
It's an eventful journey. In Israel, he learns of a living queen of Sheba -- a pilgrim suffering from "Jerusalem Syndrome" -- and in Syria he tracks down the queen's tomb, as described in the Arabian Nights. Clapp investigates the Ethiopian shrine where Menelik, said to be the son of Solomon and the mysterious queen, may have hidden the Ark of the Covenant. Then the "worst train in the world" (according to the conductor) takes Clapp to the Red Sea, where he sets sail for Yemen in an ancient dhow and comes perilously close to being shipwrecked.
As in his search for the lost city of Ubar, Clapp uses satellite images, this time to track an ancient caravan route that leads to the queen's winter capital in present-day Yemen. The quest is bolstered by new carbon-14 datings and by the discovery of an Arabian Stonehenge in the sands of the Rub' al-Khali. Finally, at the romantic and haunting ruins of Sirwah, the pieces of the queen of Sheba puzzle fall into place.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The legendary Queen of Sheba (known in the Islamic world as Balqis or Bilqis) is a fascinating and perplexing figure. She is the only woman of note in the Bible or Koran who wields political power. Yet the historical basis for the Queen of Sheba has never been clear. In this charming investigative account, filmmaker and archeology lecturer Clapp (The Road to Ulam) creatively seeks to unravel the myth and surprisingly, his search bears some fruit. Clapp brings readers on an unusual trip to the Middle East, including relatively obscure locations in Yemen and Ethiopia, where Sheba is still a living legend. Clapp's narrative is a combination of serious scholarly investigation, casual observation, travel account and personal diary. He is a genial travel companion with a good eye for detail, though he tends to sensationalize his subject matter. Many of his local informants speak in broken and grammatically incorrect English, which may be intended to convey the sense of the foreign, but it also belittles his well-meaning helpers. Fortunately, this aspect does not overshadow the overall contribution of this book. Utilizing recent archeological data, Clapp imaginatively reconstructs the life of Sheba and her visit to Solomon. In opposition to the biblical story, Clapp cleverly suggests that Sheba was in fact a far more powerful political figure than Solomon. The purpose of her visit, Clapp says, was not, as the Bible suggests, to test Solomon's wisdom but rather to engage in high-powered trade talks. Clapp is able to provide a solid, realistic insight into this intriguing figure. As he points out, the evidence is still scanty, but overall this is a well-written and informative book that will not disappoint. Illus.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-According to two brief biblical accounts, the Queen of Sheba visited the court of King Solomon in 950 B.C.E., but if the story is true, "not a shred of extrabiblical evidence backed it up." Though history tells us nothing of the woman known only as Sheba, she persists as an icon of unique female power in all the religions that originated in the Middle East-and in the popular imagination. Clapp explores the lore surrounding Sheba and sets out to discover, if he can, the facts behind the legends. He follows clues in Jerusalem, Ethiopia, and Arabia, often visiting places not normally open to Westerners and archaeologists. In a dangerous region of Yemen he makes an important discovery and finds what seems a plausible solution to the historical puzzle: "Sheba" was actually the legendary Yemeni Queen Bilqis of the ancient kingdom of Saba, traveling to Jerusalem on a trade mission. (This theory accommodates a historical basis for Sheba's significance in Ethiopian culture as well.) This account is exciting, fast moving, and richly illustrated. The author's observant eye, pitch-perfect ear, and unfailing sense of humor carry readers along on an adventure he justifiably describes as both "harrowing and sublime." This title should please a wide variety of readers-even reluctant ones whose only interest in archaeology is through Indiana Jones.

Christine C. Menefee, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 1ST edition (April 24, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395952832
• ISBN-13: 978-0395952832
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,894,702 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, June 19, 2001

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sheba: Through the Desert in Search of the Legendary Queen (Hardcover)

Nicholas Clapp, discoverer of lost Ubar (see The Road to Ubar) has set himself a new goal, that of discovering the real Queen of Sheba. First studying the stories of her in New York, he then traveled to Jerusalem, where she found herself added to the sacred texts of Judaism. Following her potential trails back to Ethiopia, and (most importantly) Yemen, where he discovers the depth and richness of Sabean (Sheban) culture. However, his journey is not one of simple tourism--at times he found himself in extreme danger, and this is the story of that exciting odyssey!

Now, just when you thought that the story was over, keep reading! Appendix 1 contains a list of potential names of the Queen (good), appendix 2 contains a chronology of the Sabean state (good), appendix 3 contains an analysis of legends identifying the Queen as a source of evil (excellent), and appendix 4 looks at the alchemists view of her (very good). Most appendices are of limited value, but these (especially #3), are well worth your reading-time.

I must admit that I was not terribly fond of this book at first. His story of his time in Jerusalem was rather negative, with stories of a bribe-taking Orthodox archbishop and "rat-faced" monks. However, he moved on, the story picked up, and got quite as fascinating as his previous book. I loved the details he gave of archaeological information on Yemen, and was quite enthralled by his story-telling ability.

I find myself wondering where he will go next. I highly recommend this book.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great adventure in history!, May 4, 2001

By 

Jon Wheeler (Somerville, MA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sheba: Through the Desert in Search of the Legendary Queen (Hardcover)

Nicholas Clapp has done it again! This renowned amateur archeologist has done something us armchair adventurers can only dream about -- he has crafted a brilliant historical account of the mystery surrounding the life of the Queen of Sheba that incorporates a fantastic journey through Europe and Middle East. I was captivated by his conversational style and ability to present the historical backround in an engaging manner, as well as his always fascinating and often humorous tales of his life on the road (or even on a tiny fishing boat crossing from Ethiopia to Yemen).

Lovers of travel and history will undoubtably enjoy this book.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Clapping Again, March 15, 2002

By 

Eric Lyon (Holts Summit, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sheba: Through the Desert in Search of the Legendary Queen (Hardcover)

From the acheologist and author behind the superlative Road to Ubar comes this years-long search for the titular queen. Clapp knows that behind many a legend looms a historical figure. In contrast to his search for Ubar, however, Clapp seems a bit too willing to believe the most tenuous of connections when seeking Sheba's stomping grounds. As his ability to wander through possible sites becomes increasingly restricted (due to political unrest), his healthy critical outlook appears to take a back seat to his need for an expedient resolution. Clapp himself seems as likeable as ever, though, and many of his observations (especially those made while in Yemen) are as hilarious as they are insightful.