Video: King Solomon's Table
A lecture exploring the culinary influence of King Solomon and the Jewish Diaspora around the world.
Few figures stand out from ancient history quite like King Solomon. His legend firmly entrenched in Hebrew Scriptures and the Old Testament, Solomon is remembered as the immensely wealthy King of Israel who built the First Temple of Jerusalem. He is believed to have reigned in the 10th century BCE, son of the equally legendary King David. His successor, his son Rehoboam, reigned over the division and subsequent decline of the Kingdom of Judah.
Among the many stories surrounding his reign, Solomon is known to have kept a cosmopolitan court drawing visitors from hundreds of miles away. Scriptures say he claimed 1000 wives and concubines, many from foreign lands, and drew the attention of the powerful Queen of Sheba.
Solomon’s wealth and notoriety has led historians to ask: What lasting impacts did he leave behind, and how can they be measured today? Historian, cook, and author Joan Nathan has attempted to trace Solomon’s legacy through global cuisine. She argues that Solomon’s court gathered new culinary influences with each wife, concubine, and gift Solomon took in. Those traditions then dispersed across Africa, Asia, and Europe with the Jewish diaspora.
Nathan’s lecture for the Library of Congress, and her cookbook at its heart, explore the interconnected nature of Jewish cuisine and its influence on surrounding cultures. You may be surprised to learn how much of your own favorite meals might be traced back to the ancient court of King Solomon.
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