When European explorers first encountered the mysterious ruins of Zimbabwe in the wilds of eastern Africa in the second half of the
19th century, they were astonished to find that a busy city had once flourished here. Though they were completely baffled as to the
origins of the is fallen empire, they refused to consider that it might ever have been a native civilization.
Numerous explanations were put forward, including the rather farfetched notion that the reins had something to do with the biblical
legends of King Solomon. Here, it was claimed, thousands of miles from Palestine, was where Solomon had sent his fleet to fetch his
treasure of precious metals and stones. This romantic explanation of Zimbabwe struck the right not and it was soon taken up by popular
adventure writers of the time, who fanned the public's interest in the legend of King Solomon's mines to an unprecedented degree.
Unfortunately for the ruins of Zimbabwe, archaeologists later showed that the city reached its height during the Middle Ages, more than
2,000 years later than the reign of Solomon in the middle of the 10th century bc. However, interest in the king's fabled treasures did
not wane. Amid wide speculation, it continues to this day.
During Solomon's long rule the kingdom of the Hebrews enjoyed the greatest power and wealth it was ever to attain. It dominated
Palestine and straddled the major trade routes between Africa and the Middle Ease and the links between the sea routes of the Indian
Ocean and the Mediterranean. Solomon established close ties with the sea-faring Phoenicians, married a daughter of an Egyptian pharaoh
and had political links with dozens of neighbouring kingdoms. The strategic position and military strength of his empire brought him
enormous wealth.
Trading expeditions were encouraged by land and by sea, and the travelers would return to its capitol at Jerusalem bearing precious
metals, exquisite stones, spices and incense, ivory, and all manner of exotic products. The wealth that he received in this manner was
quite staggering. Descriptions of Solomon's temple in Jerusalem tell of it being filled with carved pillars and statues and decorated
with treasures of bronze, copper, and gold.
While some Bible scholars have cautioned that descriptions of Solomon's treasure were overstatements made by people honouring the glory
of his reign, much of it can be accounted for. A great deal of his riches were in copper and bronze. At the time, there were copper
mines in the hills of the Negev Desert between the Dead Sea the Gulf of Aqabah, as well as smelting works at Ezion-Geber on the shores
of the Red Sea.
But the Bible is vague and unhelpful as to the source of his gold. The clues it gives are oblique, for although it provides the name of
a location there is no mention of its situation, other than to say that ships would sail there to fetch the precious metal.
One well-established fact is that Solomon's merchant navies ranged far and wide to trade. Moving south along the shores of the Red Sea
they picked up spices and incense, such as myrrh and frankincense, from Arabia. It has been suggested that it is from here that the
gold came, for archaeologists have identified ancient gold mines in Saudi Arabia that may have been worked during Solomon's time.
Just as likely is that the gold came from further afield. Joint expeditions with the Phoenicians lasting for three years were known to
have been made. The fleets cargoes of apes, Negro slaves, ivory, peacocks and other exotic creatures certainly suggest that they pushed
far into the Indian Ocean.
Long-distance voyages of this sort were by no means unknown in the ancient world. Around 600 bc, for instance, Phoenician sailors in the
employ of Egypt were supposed to have sailed right around Africa, setting out from the Red Sea and returning by way of the Pillars of
Hercules and the Mediterranean. An account of this epic Journey comes from Herodotus of Greece, although he himself was skeptical that
such a feat had ever occurred. However, epic journeys of this kind open the possibility that King Solomon's gold came from anywhere
along the coast of Africa.
Looking to the Mediterranean where the Phoenicians traded along its entire length, their voyages to Spain would have put them into
contact with the mines that supplied silver to much of the ancient would. Their close alliance with Solomon would quite naturally have
made them a main supplier of his fabled treasure.
Unfortunately, Solomon's death was followed by the division of his empire, and Israel and Judah were formed. The power of the old
kingdom waned rapidly and not long after, Jerusalem was attacked by an Egyptian pharaoh and the temple was looted and destroyed.
Solomon's wealth disappeared, and with it vanished any evidence that might have solved the riddle of the origins of his gold.
During Solomon's long rule the kingdom of the Hebrews enjoyed the greatest power and wealth it was ever to attain. It dominated
Palestine and straddled the major trade routes between Africa and the Middle Ease and the links between the sea routes of the Indian
Ocean and the Mediterranean. Solomon established close ties with the sea-faring Phoenicians, married a daughter of an Egyptian pharaoh
and had political links with dozens of neighbouring kingdoms. The strategic position and military strength of his empire brought him
enormous wealth.