About the Author

Nicholas Clapp, a noted documentary filmmaker, has lectured at Brown University, the University of California at Los Angeles, California Institute of Technology, the National Georgraphic Society, and the Goddard Space Center. Clapp lives in Los Angeles, California.

Reviews

"makes a significant contribution to the scholarly debate about whether the queen of Sheba existed." The Los Angeles Times "charming investigative account...a combination of serious scholarly investigation, casual observation, travel account and personal diary." Publishers Weekly "Nicholas Clapp...has practically invented a new literary genre: call it 'scholarly adventure archaeology.'" Providence Journal "Armchair travelers and those interested in the Middle East and biblical history could do no better than to pick-up [Sheba]" The Oregonian "A modern odyssey filled with adventure, danger, and scientific discovery." Midwest Book Review "Written as an archaeological adventure with the lay reader in mind" Library Journal "a satisfying, highly engaging book..." The Washington Post "Clapp's self-deprecating wit, engaging manner, and enjoyment of anomaly aerate the morass of legend, myth and history..." Boston Globe --

Award-winning filmmaker and author of The Road to Ubar: Finding the Atlantis of the Sands (LJ 2/15/98), Clapp lives up to his "Indiana Jones" reputation, taking the reader on an exciting journey from Jerusalem to Syria and on to Ethiopia and Yemen in search of the "historical" Queen of Sheba. She is best known from the Old Testament, which recounts her visit to King Solomon. As Makeda, she appears in Ethiopia's national saga, the Kebra Negast, giving birth upon her return from Jerusalem to Menelik I, founder of the Solomonid dynasty of Axum. To the Arabs she was Bilqis, a queen of the incense lands of ancient Saba in what is now Yemen. Until the 1950s, Sabaean monuments and their inscriptions were thought to date to a period much later than the reign of Solomon. However, C-14 dating has subsequently rendered some contemporary with that era and established definite evidence for a Sabaean presence in Ethiopia. In addition to the historical queen, the author explores her role in legend, the Kabbalah, and European alchemy. An impressive 20-page bibliography is provided. Written as an archaeological adventure with the lay reader in mind, Sheba is recommended for all public libraries. (Index and photo insert not seen.) Edward K. Werner, St. Lucie Cty. Lib. Syst., Ft. Pierce, FL Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

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. (Apr. 27) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.