According to biblical accounts, King Solomon was considered one of the richest men in history.
His gold wealth is estimated to have exceeded 25 tons per year in tribute alone, which would be equivalent to an annual income of more than 4 trillion dollars in adjusted values.
Gold and Goods: Gold was so abundant during his reign that silver was considered “of no value” in Jerusalem. His famous throne was made of ivory and covered in pure gold.
Fleet and Trade: Through his fleets in partnership with King Hiram of Tyre, he amassed large quantities of gold, silver, sandalwood, ivory, as well as spoils of war.
Accumulation of Wealth: He ordered hundreds of gold shields to be forged, built a fleet of merchant ships, and owned a magnificent throne made of ivory and pure gold.
Global Fame: Kings and queens from all over the world traveled to learn about his riches and seek his advice
Although modern historians debate the exact quantitative limits of this wealth compared with other empires of antiquity, Solomon’s name remains a supreme icon of prosperity.
Solomon inherited from his father an extensive kingdom stretching from the Euphrates River to the Egyptian border. Jerusalem, located in the central mountain region of the country and conquered by David, was the capital of his kingdom.
Solomon created a unified administration. In the desert region of the Negev, he organized the exploitation of a copper mine (its ruins were found by archaeologists).
On the shores of the Dead Sea, he exploited the presence of salt. He promoted horse trade between Cilicia and Egypt, introduced horse-drawn chariots into the army, and established a transport network.
In the Gulf of Aqaba, Solomon built the port of Ezion-Geber, near Elath, to trade with Arabia, Ethiopia, and even India, which, according to some historians, is what the biblical name Ophir refers to in that Asian country.
Some archaeologists have found the ruins of Solomon’s port on the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba, as the Bible says, giving present-day Israel maritime access to Africa and Asia.
Little by little, Solomon’s wealth increased. He had a huge palace in Jerusalem and a summer residence in the mountains of Lebanon.
His throne was made of ivory, covered with the purest gold. “All of Solomon’s cups were gilded” from Moabite, Edomite, Hittite princes and other peoples who carcked Judah and Israel.
Solomon, who reigned between 970 and 930 BC, according to the Book of Kings, is said to have had 700 princess wives and 300 concubines.
The legend and history of King Solomon are deeply tied to gold, symbolizing opulence and the highest prosperity of the ancient Kingdom of Israel.
His fortune was practically incalculable, around $4 trillion annually.
