Solomon-Magus: From Wise King to Legendary Magician
Project Type
Event
Scholarship Domain(s)
Scholarship of Discovery
Abstract
In my research for my dissertation on King Solomon in medieval romances, I discovered the Solomon-Magus tradition. This tradition began with the biblical record of Solomon being wiser than any other person on earth. Legendary stories attached to his name--not only his ability to understand the natural world in a supernatural way but also his ability to exorcise and command demons. Pseudepigraphical texts like the Testament of Solomon, for instance, elaborate on Solomon's use of demons to help build the Temple. While orthodox texts like biblical commentaries do not include such legends, vernacular biblical narratives of the Middle Ages are clearly influenced by legendary material. This presentation focuses on the blending of traditional biblical stories of Solomon with legendary materials that result in the powerful Solomon-magus figure.
Solomon-Magus: From Wise King to Legendary Magician
In my research for my dissertation on King Solomon in medieval romances, I discovered the Solomon-Magus tradition. This tradition began with the biblical record of Solomon being wiser than any other person on earth. Legendary stories attached to his name--not only his ability to understand the natural world in a supernatural way but also his ability to exorcise and command demons. Pseudepigraphical texts like the Testament of Solomon, for instance, elaborate on Solomon's use of demons to help build the Temple. While orthodox texts like biblical commentaries do not include such legends, vernacular biblical narratives of the Middle Ages are clearly influenced by legendary material. This presentation focuses on the blending of traditional biblical stories of Solomon with legendary materials that result in the powerful Solomon-magus figure.