Many legends surround the Queen of Sheba, the last in a succession of women rulers in the Land of Sheba, and as such, a pivotal link in the development of patriarchal society. This ancient queen is believed to be the woman responsible for abdicating her authority in favor of her son, Menelik I, thereby starting the patriarchal Solomonic rule. Miri examines remnants in the culture of Ethiopia and Yemen that are linked to earlier religious and non-religious traditions. Through linguistic analysis, she shows how language was used, both functionally and structurally, to disconnect the new patriarchal order from its pre-patriarchal roots. Through iconographical analysis, she draws connections between contemporary and pre-patriarchal traditions. This study of the legends and legacy of this remarkable figure demonstrate how the patriarchal telling of her story was used to influence women of other cultures and it contributes to the development of womanist research and pedagogy. It invites us to re-claim the wisdom and power of women demonized by monotheistic religions and popular culture.

Ph.D. Dissertation, June 1999

Miri Hunter Haruach, M.A. in Directing, University of New Mexico, B.A. in Music Theory and Composition, University of Tampa. Currently Professor of Theater at Santa Rosa Junior College, she also teaches courses in African-American Spirituality. Her one-person performance piece, Grandmothers of The Universe, has been performed throughout the US. She has created a series of lecture/ritual presentations entitled Re-Visioning Sheba and is co-founder of Project Sheba, a school and resource center whose aim is to re-connect with the indigenous cultures and religions of South Arabia and East Africa. Miri is also Artistic Director for the Israeli dance/performance company, Pnei HaMidbar (Faces of the Desert). Her first CD is entitled Harvest of the Heart.