Eddie Pensier writes:

And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he swore unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother. And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

–Gospel of Mark 6:21-29

Silent film from 1923 of Oscar Wilde’s “Salomé”, starring Alla Nazimova, directed by Charles Bryant.

Henri Regnault, Salomé (1870)

Bernardino Luini, Salomé with the Head of John the Baptist, c.1515

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-EjtdXmyuA

Karita Mattila performing the final scene from Richard Strauss’ Salomé, Metropolitan Opera, 2008 (Part 2 is here.)

• Bonus: Rita Hayworth performing the Dance of the Seven Veils from “Salomé” (1953)