ETHIOPIAN, ANYONE?

[Bill M]

Apologies for the reflection haze in the pictures. The original panel is on goat skin. I do believe it is modern, but interesting.

As I understand it the story depicted is:

When the Queen of Sheba ruled Ethiopia, a beautiful bird from the land of Israel flew over the Queen's palace. When the bird returned to Israel, he reported to King Solmon just what he had seen--a land ruled by a magnificent Queen, filled with endless mountains and unexplored wilderness. King Solomon ordered that the bird return to Ethiopia with an invitation for the Queen to visit the Land of Israel. When the Queen arrived, she showered the King with plentiful silver and gold, amber, spices, incense, and perfumes. King Solomon fell in love with the Queen of Sheba and that night, the two made love. Before returning to Ethiopia, the King offered Sheba a ring and asked that if she were to bare him a son, that she send their son and the ring back to him. When their son, Menelik, was old enough to travel, he was escorted to his father's kingdom in Israel. After being educated in Israel, Menelik requested to return home to Ethiopia. Solomon ordered that the counselor's first born sons accompany Menelik on his travels. The sons secretly carried the Ark of the Covenant from the Temple of Solomon into Ethiopia. Menelik became the Ethiopian King and the Falasha Jews claim descent from the sons of King Solomon's counselors. As the legend continues....

First picture shows something mystical happening. I can't figure it out.