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the Queen of Sheba

English translation: Who does she think she is? The Queen of Sheba?

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:the Queen of Sheba
Selected answer:Who does she think she is? The Queen of Sheba?
Entered by: jerrie

22:21 Jun 23, 2003
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
English term or phrase: the Queen of Sheba
Who is the Queen of Sheba? and how can we use it in our language? Thank you.
Can we say I made myself up as the Queen of Sheba?
Cheekita
Local time: 05:33
Who does she think she is? The Queen of Sheba?
Explanation:
Example of usage in current language.

This is an expression used to describe someone who thinks very highly of themselves / thinks they are better than anyone else.

(We used to use it when we were kids, might not be used so much now)..

Similar to 'being the bees knees'!

hth
Selected response from:

jerrie
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:33
Grading comment
Many thanks!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +8Magda.....
Ildiko Santana
4 +5Who does she think she is? The Queen of Sheba?
jerrie
5 +3from the Old testament
chaplin
5 +1The Queen of Sheba, according to google:
J. Leo (X)
5 +1one more to add
Özden Arıkan
5 +1Jerrie is right! Here I found a verse of a song in French and translated into English
Said Kaljanac a.k.a. SARAJ


  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +3
from the Old testament


Explanation:
she is the queen of the Sabeans who visited Solomon (1Kings10:1-13)
Ok?
Goodnight
Ségolène

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Note added at 2003-06-23 22:31:45 (GMT)
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The Coran also mentions this visit.
The queen had the reputation to be covered with jewels as her kingdom was very prosperous.
I cannot answer the second question as English is not my mother tongue
good Luck

chaplin
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:33
Native speaker of: French

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  DGK T-I: agree-if Cheekita means'making herself up'as in cosmetics,then she could say,"I made myself up like the Queen of Sheba","I did my make up like the..","my make up was worthy of the..",if she means wearing stylish clothing,"I dressed like the queen of Sheba
20 mins
agree  Said Kaljanac a.k.a. SARAJ
8 hrs
agree  Empty Whiskey Glass
17 hrs
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8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
The Queen of Sheba, according to google:


Explanation:
http://www.wic.org/artwork/queenof.htm

Another reference:

http://www.windweaver.com/sheba/Sheba.htm
Makeda, The Queen of Sheba
The meeting of King Solomon of Israel and the Queen of Sheba had significant repercussions upon the fate of Israel and the matriarchy of Sheba (believed to be early Ethiopia), and has inspired writers, artists and readers for centuries. This chapter will compare several versions of the Solomon and Sheba story, including I Kings 10 in the Bible, and the story of Makeda, Queen of Sheba from the Ethiopian epic, the Kebra Nagast. It will explore the character of the Queen of Sheba, and the significance of relationship with King Solomon - both personally and politically.
Contemporary usage you should be able to searh yourself.
Good luck

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-06-23 22:30:41 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

search

J. Leo (X)
Local time: 06:33
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  DGK T-I: good reference (and advice)
17 mins
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13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
one more to add


Explanation:
http://www.projectsheba.org/Research.htm

gives extensive info on the legends, folklore, biblical story etc.

Özden Arıkan
Germany
Local time: 06:33
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in TurkishTurkish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  DGK T-I
13 mins
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17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +8
Magda.....


Explanation:
"Who is the Queen of Sheba?" -- see below..

".. and how can we use it in our language?"
Well, that depends on which language you claim as 'yours'...

"Sheba was an ancient name for Abyssinia, a kingdom on the Red Sea in the vicinity of modern Ethiopia and Yemen. The Queen of Sheba is best known for a story in the Bible's book of Kings: at the head of a caravan of riches, she visits Israel's King Solomon to test his legendary wisdom. After Solomon successfully answers her riddles, the queen showers him with gifts. According to Ethiopian tradition the queen returned to Sheba and bore a son by Solomon, Menelik I, who was the beginning of the Ethiopian royal dynasty."

"Several Jewish legends which developed in post-Biblical times also present dubious accounts of the Queen and Solomon. Although many of her challenges to Solomon are believable, others given in the Targum Sheni, the Midrash Mishle and the Midrash Hachefez are similar to Islamic tales, and likewise unconvincing"

"Sheba appears in the Bible in I Kings 10:1-13. Having heard "the fame of Solomon," Sheba comes "to test him with difficult questions." Solomon has an answer for each question. Awed by his wisdom, Sheba gives him bountiful gifts and great praise. Solomon, in turn, grants Sheba all her wishes, and then she returns home."

"The Bible passage does not say where home was for Sheba, but describes the riches she brought as "camels laden with spices, great quantities of gold, and precious stones." The lingering mystery has prompted much conjecture and fed many myths and legends about the queen of Sheba."

"Christian Ethiopians claim to be descended from Menelik, the son of Sheba and Solomon, who is presumed to have been conceived during their biblical meeting. To Arabs, Sheba was Bilqis, a queen of the incense-rich lands of ancient Saba in what is now Yemen."

"Queen of Sheba was an Ethiopian sovereign named Makeda (Magda) and that she returned from her celebrated journey to the court of Solomon in Jerusalem bearing the king's son, David, who became the first king of Ethioipia, ruling as Menelik I. Makeda's tale is told in an ancient Ethiopian book, the Kebra Negast, or Glory of Kings, from which this is taken."

<http://www.bethel.edu/~letnie/AfricanChristianity/EthiopiaMa...


    Reference: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/1326/hatshepsut.html
    Reference: http://www.windweaver.com/sheba/Sheba2.htm
Ildiko Santana
United States
Local time: 21:33
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in HungarianHungarian, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  DGK T-I: interesting information
10 mins
agree  sktrans: I like a story told by many
29 mins
agree  Marie Scarano
5 hrs
agree  Сергей Лузан: & I know the end of the story. In modern times their descendants were brought back to Israel.
7 hrs
agree  Ino66 (X)
7 hrs
agree  Said Kaljanac a.k.a. SARAJ: In French we say "Queen of Saba" (Reine de Saba), I guess that Sheba is in Hebrew and Saba in Arabic meaning the same thing.
8 hrs
agree  jccantrell
15 hrs
agree  Empty Whiskey Glass
17 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
Who does she think she is? The Queen of Sheba?


Explanation:
Example of usage in current language.

This is an expression used to describe someone who thinks very highly of themselves / thinks they are better than anyone else.

(We used to use it when we were kids, might not be used so much now)..

Similar to 'being the bees knees'!

hth

jerrie
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:33
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
Grading comment
Many thanks!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  John Bowden: Yes, that's the only meaning in common use other than the strictly historical references explained above. It's used of somebody @putting on airs@, pretending she's better than she really is, showing off, over-dressed etc. A similar phrase is "...Lady Muck
6 hrs
  -> Lady Muck! Absolutely! Thanks
agree  DGK T-I: really good example
12 hrs
agree  Refugio: Or in some cases, very highly thought of, as when the name Sheba or Saba is given to a pampered pet (cf. the fifties movie Come Back Little Sheba with Shirley Booth and Burt Lancaster).
13 hrs
agree  Said Kaljanac a.k.a. SARAJ
13 hrs
  -> Thanks
agree  Erika P (X): She thinks to be as precious as… In the Jazz Age slang (1920s America) “sheba” also meant an attractive young woman. I don’ t think it’s still in use anymore...
1 day 14 hrs
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1 day 9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Jerrie is right! Here I found a verse of a song in French and translated into English


Explanation:
Comme si je n'existais pas
Elle est passée à côté de moi
Sans un regard, Reine de Saba
J'ai dit, Aicha, prends, tout est pour toi

Voici, les perles, les bijoux
Aussi, l'or autour de ton cou
Les fruits, bien murs au goût de miel
Ma vie, Aicha si tu m'aimes

J'irai là où ton souffle nous mène
Dans les pays d'ivoire et d'ébène
J'effacerai tes larmes, tes peines
Rien n'est trop beau pour une si belle

Oooh ! Aicha, Aicha, écoute-moi
Aicha, Aicha, t'en vas pas
Aicha, Aicha, regarde-moi
Aicha, Aicha, reponds-moi



...


Khaled - AïCha (English Verison)

As if I did not exist,
It passed to with dimensions from me,
Without a glance,
Queen of Sheba. I said:
" Aïcha, take: all is for you."
Here the pearls, jewels,
Therefore gold around your neck,
the quite ripe fruits with the honey taste,
My life, Aïcha, if you like me.
I will go where your breath carries out us
In the ebony and ivory countries.
I will erase your tears, your sorrows.
Nothing is too beautiful for so beautiful.

Oooh! Aïcha, Aïcha, listen to me.
Aïcha, Aïcha, please do not go.
Aïcha, Aïcha, look at me.
Aïcha, Aïcha, answer me.

...

Said Kaljanac a.k.a. SARAJ
Belgium
Local time: 06:33
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench, Native in BosnianBosnian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  DGK T-I: interesting how some sayings transcend language & nationality ~
20 hrs
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