“I am one of those rebellious spirits that opposed Solomon, the great prophet. The great monarch sent Asaph, his chief minister, to apprehend me. Asaph forced me before his master’s throne. Solomon, the son of David, commanded me to submit myself to his command. I rebelled and refused to obey. He imprisoned me in this copper vessel to punish me and threw me into the sea. During the first hundred years of imprisonment, I swore that if anyone delivered me, I would make him rich beyond his dreams, but that century ran out, and nothing happened. During the second, I swore to open all the treasures of the earth to anyone that should set me free, but with no better success. In the third, I promised to grant my deliverer three requests every day, but this century ran out. Being angry at finding myself a prisoner for so long, I swore that if anyone should deliver me, I would kill him without mercy and grant him no other favor but choose how they would die. Since you have delivered me today, I give you that choice.”

Sculptors – Wilfred and Edith Stijger