I have spent some time researching the historic Salome story from the gospels of Mark and Matthew (where the "daughter of Herodias" dances for Herod Antipas, but she is not named) and in The Jewish Antiquities by Flavius Josephus (where Salome is mentioned as the daughter of Herodias by name as involved in the unjust beheading of John the Baptist, but dancing is not mentioned). I have also ordered the Flaubert 1877 short story "Herodias" and read the 1895 Oscar Wilde play "Salome" where she definitely mentions seven veils.
I gather there were also plays by Voltaire featuring the same story in the 18th century.
I know that Maude Allan did dances around 1905 called The Vision of Salome and The Dance of the Seven Veils. And I know about (but have not seen, heard, or read the libretto for) the Strauss opera based on the Oscar Wilde play.
I have also heard the theory about the ancient gods Innana as the source of the idea of seven veils.
My question is: does anyone know whether Oscar Wilde introduced the idea of Salome dancing with seven veils, or got it from somewhere else?
In case anyone is tempted to point out that what the historic Salome did could not be "belly dance" or Raks Sharki--I realize this. Her stepfather Herod Antipas ruled Gallilee from 4 BC to 34 AD.
Thanks, Cathy
I gather there were also plays by Voltaire featuring the same story in the 18th century.
I know that Maude Allan did dances around 1905 called The Vision of Salome and The Dance of the Seven Veils. And I know about (but have not seen, heard, or read the libretto for) the Strauss opera based on the Oscar Wilde play.
I have also heard the theory about the ancient gods Innana as the source of the idea of seven veils.
My question is: does anyone know whether Oscar Wilde introduced the idea of Salome dancing with seven veils, or got it from somewhere else?
In case anyone is tempted to point out that what the historic Salome did could not be "belly dance" or Raks Sharki--I realize this. Her stepfather Herod Antipas ruled Gallilee from 4 BC to 34 AD.
Thanks, Cathy