engleski

Solomon's Navy in the Context of Maritime Trade Relations in Iron Age South Levant

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.

Solomon; Navy; Ezion-Geber; Israel's monarchy; Phoenicians; Iron Age

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