Solomon

Third King of Israel, son and successor of David, reigning c. 970-931 BC.

Solomon has become a symbol of wisdom, pomp and magnificence. Although an autocrat, with vast numbers of oppressed slaves and a large harem of foreign women who introduced pagan cults into Israel, he did much to increase the prosperity of his kingdom by ruthlessly destroying his enemies and by greatly increasing international trade especially with Hiram of Tyre. He was a great builder particularly in Jerusalem and constructed the First Temple. He is reputed to have written the biblical books of Proverbs and the Song of Solomon and to have been visited by the Queen of Sheba. His wisdom is illustrated by the story of two women who each claimed to be the mother of a living baby. Solomon swiftly discovered who was the true mother by suggesting they divided the baby in half. The real mother immediately gave up her claim to the child thus exposing the false mother. His age was certainly one of the most flourishing in the history of Israel; archaeology corroborates the biblical record e.g. at Megiddo. Possibly owing to his harsh treatment of the northern tribes of Israel, after his death the land was split into the separate kingdoms of Israel and Judah. His name is frequently mentioned in Muslim literature especially in the Thousand and One Nights.

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