The Queen of Sheba’s Gift: A History of the True Balsam of Matarea

This book is the first to examine the complete history of balsam from ancient times to the seventeenth century. It also surveys the evidence for the symbolic value and practical applications of the product in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.Using written sources, visual data and archaeological material, Marcus Milwright reconstructs the fascinating history of the balsam tree from Jericho and En-Gedi to Egypt. He also establishes links with resin-producing trees from the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa. Chapters address the symbolic associations of balsam and the site of Matarea (where the last balsam tree died in 1615), the distribution of products from the tree through trade and diplomacy, and the applications of these products in medicine, ritual and the domestic environment. The Queen of Sheba’s Gift is an exploration of the complex socio-cultural factors that contributed to the sense of value accorded to rare commodities.