Sheba, Queen

Sheba, Queen of

(flourished 10th century BC) In Jewish and Islamic traditions, ruler of the Kingdom of Saba' (Sheba) in southwestern Arabia. In an Old Testament story, she visited King Solomon to test his wisdom. In Islamic tradition she is known as Bilqis and is converted from worship of the sun to worship of God, marrying either Solomon himself or a Hamdani tribesman. In Persian folklore she is considered the daughter of a Chinese king and a peri (a type of supernatural being). Ethiopian tradition names her Makeda; her son by Solomon is seen as the founder of the Ethiopian royal dynasty.