KING SOLOMON
Name: Solomon
Born: c. 1000 BC Israel
Died: 931 BC Jerusalem , United Kingdom of Israel
King Solomon is a figure described in Middle Eastern scriptures as a wise ruler of an empire
centred on the united Kingdom of Israel. He was born in Jerusalem about 1000 BC
and reigned over Israel from 971 BC to 931 BC.
The Hebrew Bible accounts identify Solomon as the son of David. He is also
called Jedidiah in the Tanakh (Old Testament), and is described as the third
king of the United Monarchy, and the final king before the northern Kingdom of
Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah split; following the split his
patrilineal descendants ruled over Judah alone.
The Bible accredits Solomon as the builder of the First Temple in Jerusalem,
and portrays him as great in wisdom, wealth, and power. Solomon is the subject
of many other later references and legends.
Historical evidence of King Solomon, independent of the biblical accounts, is
scarce. The period of his rule was a period recognised as a "Dark Age" - a
period in which centralised Empires of the Late Bronze Age had collapsed, and
the new Iron Age monarchies had yet to grow. Archaeological excavations at Hazor,
Megiddo and Gezer have uncovered structures that some attributed to the reign of
Solomon based on Biblical accounts, but these structures are now generally dated
to the Omride period, more than a century after Solomon's reign. Excavations on
such sites are ongoing. So far nothing indisputably of Solomon's reign has
yet been found.
The association of Solomon with the city of Jerusalem may have preceded this
period. The name Jerusalem, attested since the time of Ebla, 2350 BC, by some
etymologies means "The City of Solomon". The Ugaritic
texts refer to "Shalim and Shachar" as two beneficent Gods, sons of El and
Asherah, divine figures of the sunset and sunrise respectively. They were
associated with two mountains that were located on the Eastern and Western rim
of the world, respectively.
Name: Solomon
Born: c. 1000 BC Israel
Died: 931 BC Jerusalem , United Kingdom of Israel
King Solomon is a figure described in Middle Eastern scriptures as a wise ruler of an empire
centred on the united Kingdom of Israel. He was born in Jerusalem about 1000 BC
and reigned over Israel from 971 BC to 931 BC.
The Hebrew Bible accounts identify Solomon as the son of David. He is also
called Jedidiah in the Tanakh (Old Testament), and is described as the third
king of the United Monarchy, and the final king before the northern Kingdom of
Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah split; following the split his
patrilineal descendants ruled over Judah alone.
The Bible accredits Solomon as the builder of the First Temple in Jerusalem,
and portrays him as great in wisdom, wealth, and power. Solomon is the subject
of many other later references and legends.
Historical evidence of King Solomon, independent of the biblical accounts, is
scarce. The period of his rule was a period recognised as a "Dark Age" - a
period in which centralised Empires of the Late Bronze Age had collapsed, and
the new Iron Age monarchies had yet to grow. Archaeological excavations at Hazor,
Megiddo and Gezer have uncovered structures that some attributed to the reign of
Solomon based on Biblical accounts, but these structures are now generally dated
to the Omride period, more than a century after Solomon's reign. Excavations on
such sites are ongoing. So far nothing indisputably of Solomon's reign has
yet been found.
The association of Solomon with the city of Jerusalem may have preceded this
period. The name Jerusalem, attested since the time of Ebla, 2350 BC, by some
etymologies means "The City of Solomon". The Ugaritic
texts refer to "Shalim and Shachar" as two beneficent Gods, sons of El and
Asherah, divine figures of the sunset and sunrise respectively. They were
associated with two mountains that were located on the Eastern and Western rim
of the world, respectively.