Gérard de Nerval: The Queen of Sheba and the Occult

The Queen of Sheba, as woman and legend, has fascinated Gérard de Nerval ever since 1835, when he undertook to write a libretto for Meyerbeer. Although the project remained unrealized, the haunting vision of this regal figure grew in intensity with the passage of years. In 1843, when traveling in the Middle East, Nerval investigated aspects of the myth he had ignored prior to this time. The fruits of his labors were published as a segment of a larger work, Voyage en Orient. Esoteric and mystical groups such as the Masons, the Rosicrucians, and the Alchemists have built entire philosophical and cosmogonous systems and rituals around the Sheba myth. Nerval's interpretation encompasses all these beliefs and will be analyzed one at a time. A psychological explication of Nerval's view of this ancient myth will also be undertaken – its significance for Nerval and his times and its relevance to us in today's world. (BLK)