Legends of the
Dome of the Rock:
15 / THE BIRDS WHICH TURNED INTO STONE
A black-bordered slab, veined with red- and
rose-colored lines in the likeness of two birds facing each other, is sd on the
entrance to the Dome of the Rock
Why were these birds transformed into stone?
King Solomon, wisest of mankind, understood the
language of all animals, as it is told in the Book of Kings: "He spoke
also of beasts, and of fowl." One day, he sat at the entrance to his
palace on the Temple Mount, delighting in the bright sky and clear daylight.
Before him two cooing birds caressed each other, twittering merrily.
As the king looked up he heard one bird say to his spouse:
"Who is this man seated here?" And she answered: "This is the
king whose name and fame fill the world." Then the bird answered in
mocking pride, "And do they call even him mighty? How is his power
sufficient for all these palaces and fortresses? Did I so desire I could
overthrow them in a second by fluttering one wing."
His spouse encouraged him, saying: "Do so, and
show your valor and power, if you have the strength to carry out your
words."
And Solomon, listening to the conversation in
astonishment, signaled to the bird to approach, and asked him the cause of his
overweening pride. Terrified, the trembling bird answered the august king:
"Let my Lord the king grant me forgiveness out of his loving-kindness and
goodness of heart. I am naught but a poor powerless bird who can do him no
evil. All that I said was only to please my wife and raise myself in her
esteem." And Solomon laughed to himself and sent the bird back to his
spouse.
She, meanwhile, stood on the roof waiting for her mate
to return and tell her why the king had sent for him. When he came back, she
asked excitedly: "What did the king want?" And his chest swelling
with pride, he answered: "The king heard my words and entreated me not to
bring destruction upon his court and not to carry out my purpose."
When Solomon heard this, he grew wroth with the brazen
birds and changed them both into stone slabs, to warn others to
refrain from vain bragging and empty boasting, and to teach womenfolk not to
incite their chosen ones in their vanity to undertake foolish and foolhardy
deeds.
Sources:.I Kings 5:13; Rashi’s commentary to I Kings 3:15; Quarterly of the Department of Antiquities in Palestine, 1939 p. 88; J. Burton, Inner Life of Syria, II, 1875, p. 89; G.H. Hanauer, Folklore of the Holy Land, 1907, p. 47.
Culled
from: Zev Vilnay: Legends of Jerusalem, Jewish Publication Society,
1973.
Return to Index of Legends of
the Dome of the Rock
Return to Cyber Library of Human
Reconstruction