The Lord of the Rings and Legend of Solomon and Asmodeus
The Usurpation by Asmodeus (or Sakhr)
This post-biblical legend, found primarily in the Babylonian Talmud (Gittin 68a-b) and expanded in Jewish and Islamic folklore, explains a period when King Solomon lost his throne.
The Demon's Capture
While constructing the great Temple, Solomon needed to quarry stone without using iron tools, as iron was associated with warfare and the Temple was to be a house of peace [salem]. His scholars told him of the shamir, a mythical worm or substance that could cut through any material. The only being who knew the shamir's location was Asmodeus (Ashmedai in Hebrew, Sakhr in Islamic tradition), the king of demons.
Solomon dispatched his chief captain, Benaiah, with a chain and his signet ring, upon which was engraved the Shem Hamephorash (the ineffable name of God). Benaiah found Asmodeus's lair, drained his cistern of water, and refilled it with wine. When the demon drank the wine and fell into a deep sleep, Benaiah bound him with the chain and ring, which neutralized his power.
The Theft of the Ring
Asmodeus was brought to Jerusalem and forced to reveal the shamir's location. After the Temple's completion, Solomon, in a moment of hubris, grew curious about the demon's true power. He asked Asmodeus, "Wherein lies your greatness, if you can be bound by my ring?"
Asmodeus replied, "If you would see my true power, you must unchain me and lend me your ring."
Solomon, overconfident, agreed. He removed the chains and handed the demon the ring. The moment Asmodeus possessed the ring, he regained his full, monstrous form. He stood with one wing touching the earth and the other brushing the heavens.
The Exile and Impersonation
In an instant, Asmodeus hurled the ring into the sea and flung King Solomon 400 leagues away. The demon then assumed Solomon's exact likeness and sat upon his throne, ruling as an imposter.
The true Solomon was left a wandering beggar. He roamed from town to town, destitute, repeating, "I, Koheleth [the Preacher], was king over Israel in Jerusalem." People thought him mad. This period of exile, said to have lasted three years, was seen as a divine punishment for Solomon's sins (namely, his idolatrous wives and his own hubris).
The Recovery
Solomon's penance eventually led him to a coastal city, where he begged for food. He was given a fish for his meal. As he cut the fish open to prepare it, he found his lost signet ring inside its belly.
The moment he slipped the ring back onto his finger, his royal splendor and divine authority returned. He immediately traveled back to Jerusalem. When he entered the palace and confronted the imposter, Asmodeus (or Sakhr) saw the ring and, with a shriek, vanished, his reign of terror over. Solomon reclaimed his throne, humbled and having atoned for his sins.
2. The "Brazen Sea" or "Molten Sea"
This was a real, massive, and functional object that stood in the courtyard of Solomon's Temple, as described in the Hebrew Bible (1 Kings 7:23-26 and 2 Chronicles 4:2-5). It was not related to the legend of Asmodeus but was a central part of the Temple's ritual furniture.
What It Was: The Brazen Sea was an enormous bronze basin, or laver, filled with water. It was so large it was called a "sea" (yam in Hebrew).
Construction: It was cast from bronze (or brass) by Hiram of Tyre. It was circular, measuring ten cubits (about 15 feet) in diameter and five cubits (about 7.5 feet) high.
Support: This massive basin did not rest on the ground. It stood on the backs of twelve bronze oxen. These oxen were arranged in four groups of three, with each group facing one of the cardinal directions (north, south, east, and west). The twelve oxen are widely understood to symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel.
Purpose: Its function was explicit: it was "for the priests to wash in" (2 Chronicles 4:6). This was for their ritual ablutions—the ceremonial washing required for them to be in a state of purity before performing their sacred duties in the Temple.
While J.R.R. Tolkien's primary, confirmed influences for The Lord of the Rings were Norse mythology (the Völsunga saga, the Ring of Andvaranaut) and classical sources (Plato's Ring of Gyges), there are significant thematic and narrative parallels with the post-biblical legends of King Solomon, particularly concerning his magical ring.
These parallels exist primarily in the archetypal story of a ring of power, rather than in a direct, acknowledged borrowing by Tolkien.
1. The Ring of Power
The central parallel is the existence of a magic ring that grants its bearer immense power, specifically the power to control other beings.
The Seal of Solomon: According to legends (found in sources like the Testament of Solomon and later Jewish and Islamic lore), King Solomon possessed a signet ring, often called the "Seal of Solomon."
1 This ring was a gift from God, engraved with the divine name.2 Its primary power was granting Solomon the ability to command supernatural beings, including demons (jinn) and angels.3 He famously used this power to enslave demons and force them to build his great Temple in Jerusalem.4 The One Ring: Forged by the Dark Lord Sauron, the One Ring's primary purpose was control and domination.
5 It was created to "rule all others," specifically by binding the wills of those who wore the other Rings of Power (Elves, Dwarves, and Men).6 Like Solomon's ring, it is a tool for compelling service, though for malicious ends (domination) rather than constructive ones (building a temple).
2. Narrative and Thematic Parallels
Beyond the rings themselves, the stories surrounding them share several archetypal elements.
| Feature | Legend of Solomon | The Lord of the Rings (Sauron/The One Ring) |
| Origin of Power | Given by God (divine, "good"). | Forged by Sauron (personal, "evil"). |
| Source of Rule | The ring solidifies Solomon's God-given wisdom and rightful rule. | The ring is Sauron's means to establish his tyrannical rule. |
| The Usurper | The demon Asmodeus (or Sakhr) tricks Solomon, steals the ring, and hurls it into the sea. The demon then impersonates Solomon and rules in his place for a time. | The ring is cut from Sauron's hand by Isildur, who is immediately tempted by it. The ring's will corrupts its bearers (Isildur, Gollum, Frodo), effectively "usurping" their own. |
| Loss and Recovery | The ring is lost in the water (sea) and miraculously found inside a fish that is caught and brought to Solomon, restoring him to power. | The ring is lost in the water (river) and found by Déagol (who was fishing), ultimately leading to the re-emergence of Sauron's power. |
| The "Molten Sea" | Solomon's Temple featured a "Brazen Sea" or "Molten Sea," a massive bronze basin of water for priestly ablutions. | The One Ring can only be destroyed in the "molten sea" of Mount Doom, the place of its creation. |
3. Speculative Character Parallels
Literary critics and fans often debate phonetic and thematic similarities between characters.
Saruman and Solomon: This is the most frequently cited parallel.
Phonetics: The names "Saruman" and "Solomon" are phonetically similar.
The Fall of the Wise: Both figures are defined by their immense wisdom. Solomon was the wisest man in the world, while Saruman the White was the chief of the Istari (Wizards) and known for his deep lore. Both characters famously "fall" from their state of grace—Solomon by turning to idolatry late in his life, and Saruman through his pride, his desire for the One Ring, and his eventual alliance with Sauron.
Association with a Tower: Both are associated with a great, central tower: Solomon with his Temple and Saruman with Orthanc in Isengard.
However, the established etymology for "Saruman" comes from Old English searu ("craft," "skill"), aligning with his Elven name Curunír ("Man of Skill"). This link is more in line with Tolkien's documented linguistic methods than a Hebrew one.
4. Confirmed vs. Thematic Influence
While the legend of Solomon's Ring provides a powerful archetype, Tolkien's confirmed influences remain:
Norse Mythology: The cursed ring Andvaranaut from the Völsunga saga.
7 Classical Mythology: The Ring of Gyges from Plato's Republic, which grants invisibility.
8 A Cursed Roman Ring: Tolkien, a philologist, studied a cursed 4th-century Roman ring (the Ring of Silvianus) found at Lydney Park, which was associated with a curse on its thief.
9
There is one direct, though minor, link between Tolkien and Solomon. Tolkien used the Old English text "Solomon and Saturn"—a poetic dialogue between the two figures—as a source for one of Gollum's riddles ("Time") in The Hobbit.
In summary, the parallels are strong but likely archetypal. The concept of a magic ring of control was a known element in Western folklore and esoteric tradition, and the Solomon legend is its most prominent example.
