Loggia di raffaello, 12, 02

King Solomon sits upon a central throne, gesturing toward an executioner who raises a sword over a living infant. One woman rushes forward with an outstretched arm to halt the execution, while another kneels on the right and a group of elders observes the trial. A second, deceased infant lies on the ground in the foreground, representing the catalyst for the dispute.

Solomon is a foundational figure in Western esotericism, regarded as the archetypal wise king, architect of the Temple, and a master of natural and celestial secrets. In the Kabbalistic and Hermetic traditions, Solomon’s wisdom represents the divine faculty of discernment and the ability to perceive hidden truths beneath outward appearances.