Histria antiqua, Vol. 21 No. 21, 2012.
Original scientific paper
Solomon’s Navy in the Context of Maritime Trade Relations in Iron Age South Levant
Eva Katarina GLAZER
; Hrvatski studiji, Odjel za povijest Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Borongajska cesta 83 D, 10 000 Zagreb, Hrvatska
Danijel ŠTRUKLEC
; Hrvatski studiji Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Borongajska cesta 83 D, 10 000 Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
Levant can be seen as an important link between the two great centers of social and historical events of the Near East,
Mesopotamia and Egypt. In Early Iron Age, this area was marked by many social changes, such as the weakening of
Egypts supremacy in the Levant area and the emergence of new ethnic groups like the Philistines and Israelites. The
problem of Israel’s monarchy and Solomon, David’s successor is an important topic in the scientific world for a long time now.
What does the Old Testament tell and what is the archaeological evidence? How strong was the monarchy of Solomon and
what was its relation to neighboring nations? With the help of archaeological and literary sources this paper attempts to
present as faithfully as possible the social relations between Israel and some of the people in the southern Levant. Solomon’s
navy is the key to understanding these relationships, in both political and economic aspects. The importance of maritime
trade, maritime routes and harbors suggest a great social activity, and according to the Old Testament the foundation of
Solomon’s wealth. Among other things, this paper wants to present a possible conflict between the material evidence and
written sources, and problematizes the relationship of archaeological evidence and the Old Testament.
Keywords
Solomon; Navy; Ezion Geber; Israel’s monarchy; Phoenicians; Iron Age
Hrčak ID:
101885
URI
Publication date:
1.8.2012.
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