Salacious Salome: A walk on the Wilde side

Herod's Banquet
Painting by Fra Filippo Lippi

Throughout many stories concerning the Daughter of Herodias, one common theme emerges: disgust.

Although her name derives from the Hebrew root word for peace, few interpretations of Salome's life were soothing.  Violence, hypocrisy and political intrigue were dominant themes until Oscar Wilde came along.  He then made sure that Salome's salaciousness was given top literary billing.

In Wilde's famous play, it doesn't take but an instant for Salome to fall totally in lust with Iokanaan the Baptist.  As she stares at his tortured imprisoned body for the very first time, she immediately notes that his eyes "are like black lakes troubled by fantastic moons" and his chaste flesh is "like a shaft of silver."  He, on the other hand, calls her a "daughter of Babylon" whose "mother hath filled the earth with the wine of her inquities."

Not an auspicious first encounter, and it only get worse from there...

This initial assessment of her and her closest kin only serves to fan the flames of Salome's passion.  Whereas most might run (or at least hide) from such condemnation, Salome merely replies: Speak again, Iokanaan.  Thy voice is as music to mine ear.  All the "Daughter of Sodom" accusations in the world couldn't dissuade her from yearning to kiss his pomegranate-like lips.

No need to recount (and every need to recant) all the subsequent details.  Suffice it to say that Salome did get to kiss those lips - at which point, even Herod concludes: In truth, what she has done is a great crime.  I am sure that it is a crime against some unknown God.

Resources

http://www.wilde-online.info/salome.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/siki/Salome