5 myths
Myths, legends, and mystical writings about Shamir from across Jewish tradition.
5 myths on JewishMythology.com retell how Jewish tradition imagines shamir, drawn from the Hebrew Bible, Midrash, Talmud, Kabbalah, and later Jewish literature. Each story below synthesizes primary sources into a single narrative; follow any myth to read it, and from there into the source passages behind it.
The Torah uses a different verb for Eve's creation -- God built her, not formed her. And at twilight before the first Shabbat, ten impossible things were made.
To build the Temple without iron, Solomon needed the shamir worm. It was guarded by a bird who had sworn an oath to an angel. Solomon got it by trickery.
Hezekiah's mother heard what salamander blood could do. She anointed her son before Ahaz carried him to Moloch's fire, and the flames did not touch him.
Solomon needs the Shamir worm to cut the Temple stones without iron, so he sends Benaiah to capture Ashmedai king of demons, and later pays a terrible price.
Solomon binds Ashmedai with the Ineffable Name to get the shamir. After the Temple is built, Ashmedai borrows the royal ring and throws Solomon into exile.
