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Head-piece to The Song of Solomon. Canticles 1:4. Vignette with a winged heart with flowers
and a halo of stars standing upon a skull with snake coiling around it and an orb, a glowing Hebrew inscription in sky above; letterpress in two columns below and on verso. 1796. Inscriptions: Lettered below image, "P J de Loutherbourg", "J. Landseer Fec" and publication line: "Published Jany. 1796/ by T. M[ ] Fleet St London". Print made by John Landseer.
Date: 1 January 1796.
Source: Photos by Harry Kossuth.
Author: Phillip Medhurst.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Joshua 1:1 in the Aleppo Codex.
(Wikimedia Commons)
The Song of Songs, also known as The Song of Solomon, The Canticle of Canticles, or, simply, Canticles (
Hebrew: שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים Šîr HašŠîrîm;
Greek: ᾎσμα ᾈσμάτων asma asmaton, both meaning "Song of Songs"), is one of the
Megillot (Scrolls) of The
Ketuvim ("The Writings", the last section of The
Tanakh or
Hebrew Bible), and the Fifth of the "Wisdom" Books of The Christian
Old Testament.
The only piece of erotic literature in The Bible,
this book was regarded by earlier devotees as an allegory of God's love
for His people. The Text is introduced by A.S. Byatt.
Canongate Books.
Scripturally, The Song of Songs is unique in its celebration of sexual love. It gives "the voices of two lovers, praising each other, yearning for each other, proffering invitations to enjoy". The two are in harmony, each desiring the other and rejoicing in sexual intimacy; the women (or "daughters") of Jerusalem form a chorus to the lovers, functioning as an audience, whose participation in the lovers' erotic encounters facilitates the participation of the reader.
The following Song of Songs Text is from
Song of Songs Chapter 2 שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים
| א אֲנִי חֲבַצֶּלֶת הַשָּׁרוֹן, שׁוֹשַׁנַּת הָעֲמָקִים. | 1 I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. |
| ב כְּשׁוֹשַׁנָּה בֵּין הַחוֹחִים, כֵּן רַעְיָתִי בֵּין הַבָּנוֹת. | 2 As a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. |
| ג כְּתַפּוּחַ בַּעֲצֵי הַיַּעַר, כֵּן דּוֹדִי בֵּין הַבָּנִים; בְּצִלּוֹ חִמַּדְתִּי וְיָשַׁבְתִּי, וּפִרְיוֹ מָתוֹק לְחִכִּי. | 3 As an apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. Under its shadow I delighted to sit, and its fruit was sweet to my taste. |
| ד הֱבִיאַנִי אֶל-בֵּית הַיָּיִן, וְדִגְלוֹ עָלַי אַהֲבָה. | 4 He hath brought me to the banqueting-house, and his banner over me is love. |
| ה סַמְּכוּנִי, בָּאֲשִׁישׁוֹת--רַפְּדוּנִי, בַּתַּפּוּחִים: כִּי-חוֹלַת אַהֲבָה, אָנִי. | 5 'Stay ye me with dainties, refresh me with apples; for I am love-sick.'
|
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In modern Judaism, the Song is read on The Sabbath during The
Passover, which marks the beginning of the grain harvest as well as commemorating
The Exodus from Egypt. Jewish Tradition reads it as an allegory of the relationship between God and Israel. Christian Tradition, in addition to appreciating the literal meaning of a romantic song between Man and Woman, has read the poem as an allegory of Christ (The Bridegroom) and
His Church (The Bride).
English: Church of Santa Caterina del Sasso, Varese, Italy. Fresco showing a Lily among Thorns, symbolising The Virgin Mary, according to a quotation from The Song of Solomon.
Deutsch: Santa Caterina del Sasso ( Varese ). Kirche - Fresko: Lilie unter Dornen als Symbol der Jungfrau Maria nach einem Zitat aus dem Hohen Lied Salomos.
Date: 1 August 2010.
Source: Own work.
Author: Wolfgang Sauber.
(Wikimedia Commons)
The Song of Songs.
Date: 1863.
(Wikimedia Commons)
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