King Solomon’s maritime empire uncovered
A British maritime archaeologist claims that he has discovered proof of the elusive biblical King Solomon and his purported maritime empire that was formed through a political alliance with the […]
A British maritime archaeologist claims that he has discovered proof of the elusive biblical King Solomon and his purported maritime empire that was formed through a political alliance with the ancient Phoenicians who ruled in present-day Lebanon.
Though much is written in the Bible about King Solomon, and he is described as a powerful monarch with great wealth and wisdom who built the First Temple of Jerusalem, no direct archaeological evidence of his reign has been uncovered. Consequently, some historians and archaeologists have concluded that Solomon was either a leader of a minor chiefdom or even an idealised myth.
However, according to All Israel News, Dr Sean Kingsley is challenging this narrative with his new findings, arguing that the biblical account of Solomon is largely accurate. While archaeologists traditionally search for evidence of Solomon in Israel, Kingsley adopted an alternative investigation, focusing on finding evidence of the Mediterranean empire that the Bible says Solomon built through his alliance with the Phoenician king, Hiram.
Instead of digging in the soil of the Holy Land, Kingsley has spent the past three decades exploring over 350 shipwrecks. Kingsley’s quest brought him to Spain, far away from the Holy Land. Kingsley argues that he discovered “a Phoenician coast” in the Western Mediterranean, consisting of several sites connected to trade and mining, including Rio Tinto in Spain.
In Rio Tinto, old maps reveal the existence of a site described as “Solomon Hill” or “Solomon Castle.” According to one 16th-century account, gold and silver were mined at this site on Solomon’s behalf. Kingsley further argues that an isotope analysis revealed that silver hoards discovered in the Holy Land were of Spanish origin. In addition, pottery discovered nearby in the Spanish city of Huelva, reportedly shows a connection to the Land of Israel and Phoenicia. According to Kingsley, Huelva is likely the biblical capital of Tarshish, a place of precious metals for King Solomon.
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