The Treasures, the ma’ida Sulayman (Solomon’s table) Captured in the Arab Conquest of Spain: The Problem of Historical Sources and the Submission of an Account of the Activities of Tariq bn Ziyad and Musa Ibn Nusayrto the Caliph in Damascus

Abstract

The purpose of this essay is to analyze the exaggerations that Arabic sources contain concerning the treasures captured from subdued peoples. To the exaggerated treasures obtained by Tariq bn Ziyad’s armies in the Iberian peninsula, is added the ma’ida Sulayman (Solomon’s table), famous not only because of its wealth, but also because it played a major role, according to the legend, or the historical reality, during the submission of an account of the activities of Tariq bn Ziyad and Musa Ibn Nusayr to the caliph in Damascus. This paper also analyzes the problem of Arabic sources dealing with the trip of the conquerors of al-Andalus to Damascus. In the first place even who the caliph was at the time when they received the order to go to Damascus is open to debate. Secondly, who the Amir al-Mu’minin was who heard their account of their activities in the conquest of al-Andalus. In the third place who the caliph was who punished them remains unclear. Arabic sources even contain different information concerning the types of punishments meted out to the Muslim conquerors of Iberia. Concerning these issues the legends are abundant, as well as the historical accounts. This paper also deals with these issues. The major thread for the explanations of these events is the analysis of the le gends and the historical accounts.