A universal archetype featured in the Queen of Sheba myth is that of the Great Mother, or founder of a people. Many cultures have a powerful female goddess as the Great Mother. Often this Great Mother has an equal for a mate, as did Sheba, or is even the dominant one. The Japanese Shinto creation myth features Izanagi and Izanami, who were brother and sister, as were Osiris and Isis, of Egypt. The Greek deities Gaia, mother earth, and Ouranos, the sky god, were so enamored of each other that their continued lovemaking trapped their children in Gaia’s womb. This was also true for the Maori primal couple, Papa and Rangi. Rather than slay their parents, the baby gods and goddesses trapped in Papa’s womb eventually forced them apart. Ouranos fared worse. Gaia made a sickle for her other son, Kronos, who castrated his father, and freed his brothers and sisters.

			An Ethiopian depiction of the Queen of Sheba.