Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Osbert · 08-20-2006, 05:18 AM

What follows is an extract from a site: http://www.jesusneverexisted.com/solomon.htm

Can anyone confirm or deny?

Quote:

"The archaeological evidence in Jerusalem for the famous building projects of Solomon is nonexistent.
19th and early 20th century excavations around the Temple Mount in Jerusalem failed to identify even a trace of Solomon's fabled Temple or palace complex."
(Finkelstein, Silberman, p128)

In the 1950s, Yigael Yadin – Israeli Defense Chief of Staff turned archaeologist – decided that the ruins of Megiddo, Hazor and Gezer were the legendary 'Fortress Cities' of Solomon.
"Our great guide was the Bible" he said. Thus he confirmed the Bible with the Bible.
This was despite an absence of any find at the sites naming Solomon – but a cartouche naming Pharaoh Amenhotep III instead!
Destruction of the sites was attributed to 'Yahweh's instrument' – the 8th century Assyrians. But the Arameans beat them to it, before themselves succumbing to the Assyrians in 811 BC.
Jeroboam II (788 - 747 BC), an Assyrian client king of Israel, rebuilt Megiddo, Gezer and Hazor and presided over the last period of Israel's prosperity. His reign helped to colour the legend of 'Solomon', written in the 7th century.

The real Solomon:
"I ascended the Lebanon Mountains and cut down the mighty beams of cedar.
At that time I carried those cedars from Lebanon and at the gate of the temple
of Shulmânu, my lord, I laid them down.
The old temple which Shalmaneser, my father, had built, had become decrepit, and I, in my skill, rebuilt that temple from its foundations to its pinnacles.
The beams of cedar from Lebanon I laid on it.
When this temple becomes old and decrepit, may a future prince renew its decrepit parts and return the inscription to its place."

Shalmaneser III (859-824 BC) was named for the god Shulmânu-Asharêd ("shulmânu is foremost").

Shalmânu is the Assyrian equivalent of Suleiman and thus Solomon.

Toto · 08-20-2006, 12:44 PM

I think that these are all undisputed facts. There is no uncontrovertible evidence for the existence of Solomon (unless you think that the Hebrew Scriptures are evidence.) There is only one obscure archeological inscription that mentions the House of David (and that interpretation is disupted.)

You may or may not draw the conclusion from this that Solomon never existed, or that the figure of Solomon in the Bible is highly fictionalized.

gnosis92 · 08-20-2006, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

I think that these are all undisputed facts. There is no uncontrovertible evidence for the existence of Solomon (unless you think that the Hebrew Scriptures are evidence.) There is only one obscure archeological inscription that mentions the House of David (and that interpretation is disupted.)

You may or may not draw the conclusion from this that Solomon never existed, or that the figure of Solomon in the Bible is highly fictionalized.

who then does exist with uncontrovertible evidence??

Wisdumb · 08-20-2006, 06:03 PM

Saint Nicholas of Myra was a real person. But due to his simple gift giving habit we have turned him into Santa Claus. My point is I believe Solomon existed but his accomplishments were greatly exaggerated over time.

Toto · 08-21-2006, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gnosis92

who then [did] exist with uncontrovertible evidence??

Anyone whose bones can be dug up and whose DNA can be analyzed, or who left some physical evidence or writing that can't be faked.

Dean Anderson · 08-21-2006, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gnosis92

who then does exist with uncontrovertible evidence??

I think I do, therefore I do.

No-one else's existence has uncontrovertable evidence, so it is a pointless criterion to use - since it naturally leads to solipsism.

A better criterion to use is whether someone existed beyond reasonable doubt. There is very reasonable doubt that the Solomon described by the Bible existed.

The Bishop · 08-21-2006, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

Anyone whose bones can be dug up and whose DNA can be analyzed, or who left some physical evidence or writing that can't be faked.

The extremist position!

Osbert · 08-21-2006, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

I think that these are all undisputed facts. There is no uncontrovertible evidence for the existence of Solomon (unless you think that the Hebrew Scriptures are evidence.) There is only one obscure archeological inscription that mentions the House of David (and that interpretation is disupted.)

You may or may not draw the conclusion from this that Solomon never existed, or that the figure of Solomon in the Bible is highly fictionalized.

Many thanks,
I was having a discussion with a friend (a mason) who simply will not believe that Solomon's existence could have been doubted.
Worse than Christians!!

Roller · 08-21-2006, 06:43 AM

Who built the temple?

Doug Shaver · 08-21-2006, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roller

Who built the temple?

What temple? The one described in the Bible?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

08-20-2006, 12:44 PM	#2
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	I think that these are all undisputed facts. There is no uncontrovertible evidence for the existence of Solomon (unless you think that the Hebrew Scriptures are evidence.) There is only one obscure archeological inscription that mentions the House of David (and that interpretation is disupted.) You may or may not draw the conclusion from this that Solomon never existed, or that the figure of Solomon in the Bible is highly fictionalized.

08-20-2006, 06:03 PM	#4
Wisdumb Regular Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: United States Posts: 103	Saint Nicholas of Myra was a real person. But due to his simple gift giving habit we have turned him into Santa Claus. My point is I believe Solomon existed but his accomplishments were greatly exaggerated over time.

08-21-2006, 06:43 AM	#9
Roller Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cleveland Posts: 658	Who built the temple?

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.