What does it all mean?
This is where the archeology has been found.
Hi, how are you?
Look at that.
I need a planter.
A shrine to a bellybutton.
Look at that!
No one gets into this place?
Whoa! Don't take me too far.
Now that's naked archeology.
[theme music]
I'm in Jerusalem, the City of David,
and his son was King Solomon,
the man who built the Temple of God.
Where in the Holy of Holies was the Arc of the Covenant,
the box that once held the Ten Commandments.
He had powers, according to legend.
He had a thousand wives. A thousand wives.
A thousand wives.
Don't even think about it. days a year...
This man was important.
He ruled a United Kingdom of the North and the South.
He was a powerhouse,
at least that's what the Bible tells us.
And now, suddenly, some archaeologists,
some scholars come along and say:
No. It's just a story.
"Not only did he not have a thousand wives,
"he didn't build a Temple.
"Not only didn't he build a Temple,
he built nothing. He is a myth."
I'm on a quest to find out:
what does the archaeology actually tell us.
Is King Solomon myth, or history?
[SIMCHA] The most famous shower scene
of the ancient world is the Biblical story
about King David watching from a rooftop
as Bathsheba was bathing. Why am I telling you this?
Well, because David and Bathsheba
didn't just become lovers, they also conceived a child.
And that child's name was Solomon.
When David eventually d*ed,
the Bible tells us that Solomon was chosen to be king
and quickly gained a reputation for being a bit of a lady's man.
The Bible says he had wives and concubines.
But the first thing I need to find out is
how could one guy manage to have
a thousand women in his life?
So, I'm meeting archaeologist, Professor Gaby Barkay,
to find out whether this portion of Solomon's life
is fact or fantasy.
Let's start on Solomon. How are you on Solomon?
We are good friends.
Ok. Would you come to the conclusion
that he had a thousand wives?
That means he only got to each wife, I figured it out,
it's something like once every three years.
An especially potent gentleman
can have more than one lady per night.
Okay, so once a year. You know, I mean.
You have to bear in mind that these women
were actually diplomatic marriages,
and a diplomatic marriage is a ratification of relations
between two countries.
His wives were Ammonite, Moabite, Hittite,
Egyptian and others.
Isn't he criticized that he brought foreign gods into the city?
He was criticized because of the fact
he built high places for the foreign worship
of his foreign wives on the mountain opposite Jerusalem
[SIMCHA] Here I was thinking all those wives
had something to do with the sexual prowess,
but really they were just the result of
Solomon's political treaties with other countries.
Yet when he started building high-altars for those wives
so that they could pray to their pagan gods,
Solomon fell into God's bad books.
But, you know, I feel for him.
mean, I feel for him.
If you were one of a thousand wives,
and the husband doesn't get to you except
once in three years, he threw them a bone,
a couple of high altars. You know what I mean?
You would too, wouldn't you, like,
if you had a thousand wives
For me one was more than enough.
[SIMCHA] But even though Solomon built pagan altars
and temples, he more than made up for it
by building the First monotheistic Temple
to ever stand in Jerusalem.
And according to the Biblical tradition
Solomon built the temple right here at the same spot
that is now occupied by the Muslim Shrine:
The Dome of the Rock.
So, what better place to look for archaeological evidence
that can prove he really existed?
It was assumed that this is going to be the area
in which the palaces of Solomon would turn up.
But there is nothing here preserved from that time.
Actually, the steps upon which we walk
are from Herodian period.
Which means...?
The Second Temple period.
And they are right on top of bedrock.
So there is no chance of finding anything of those early periods.
[SIMCHA] Solomon' Temple might have stood right here
once upon a time, but after , years of history,
it's hard to be sure.
The Muslim community strictly forbids digging
within their grounds, and the only places one can dig?
There's nothing to find since it's made of pure bedrock.
So, where do I go next to find evidence of King Solomon?
Well, when I look back at his many women
I notice that one of them does stand out:
a famous African Queen who just might've left
some kind of proof that Solomon was more of a man than a myth.
[SIMCHA] I'm looking for evidence for King Solomon,
who the bible says built the st temple of God in Jerusalem,
but so far the evidence isn't adding up.
So, I'm going back into the Bible for clues
and find that it tells of Solomon's relationship
with a beautiful African Queen, named Sheba.
The Book of Kings tells us
that when the Queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's wisdom,
she came to visit him and to ask him hard questions.
But what's amazing is that this story
doesn't just come from the Bible,
it's also recorded from the Queen of Sheba's perspective
in an Ancient Ethiopian text called the Kebra Negast.
[SIMCHA] And right here in downtown Jerusalem,
the Ethiopian Orthodox Church commemorates
the relationship between Solomon and Sheba to this day.
So I'm meeting up with Father Gabre Sellassie
to find out more about this tradition.
We're interested in King Solomon.
And the Ethiopian Church has a special tradition
with respect to King Solomon.
Could you explain to me what that is
with Queen of Sheba?
King Solomon was the wisest.
She heard of his wisdom.
Oh so she was here six months?
Six months. And she return with her baby
She came without a baby,
but met King Solomon and she went back with a baby.
In Ethiopia. And he was the first king, right?
He was the son of Solomon and Sheba.
And how do we know this story in the Ethiopian tradition?
Where do we get this story from?
[SIMCHA] The Kebra Nagast not only tells us
that Solomon and Sheba had a son together,
it also tells us that the son's name was Melenik,
the first King of Ethiopia.
And it tells us that Solomon gave
the Arc of the Covenant to Melenik for safe keeping.
Ethiopian tradition maintains that the Ark is still in Ethiopia
to this day, kept under lock and key in a church
in the city of Aksum.
The Ark of the Covenant is in Ethiopia?
Can I see?
Why not?
It's the holiest thing.
So that's why I want to see it.
Secretly, secretly.
Secret. It's sacred and secret in a church.
In Askum?
[SIMCHA] Despite my attempts,
the good Father wouldn't agree to take me to Ethiopia
and show me the Arc of the Covenant...
But one thing's sure: King Solomon is a central figure
in Ethiopian religion and history.
And here in the chapel, they have a painting
that depicts Solomon's meeting with the Queen of Sheba.
I want to show you Naked Archaeology in action.
Everybody come over here. Now, look at this.
The Queen of Sheba and King Solomon.
There's the Queen of Sheba. She's renowned for her beauty.
Absolutely.
Correct? There's King Solomon.
He looks a little Prussian in this painting,
but he's wearing a Star of David so we know he's Jewish.
Yeah, yeah, sure.
Now, you tell me. Everybody else sees King Solomon.
I'm looking over there and I see two Hassids from Crown Heights.
That's right. Straight from Crown Heights.
Straight from Crown Heights. New York.
How did they get there? That's Naked Archaeology.
[SIMCHA] Even though there's no hard evidence
of Solomon's meeting with Sheba,
or some paternity test that
proves Melenik was Solomon's son,
it's important to remember that Ethiopia converted to Judaism,
and their history books tell us that they did so
after the Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon in Jerusalem.
This kind of living tradition from people as far away as Ethiopia,
tells me Solomon can't just be some kind of myth
that made it into the Bible.
Now all I have to do is prove it.
And for that I'm going to need some archaeology
that says without a doubt "Solomon was here."
[SIMCHA] I'm searching for proof
that King Solomon was a real historical figure.
The Bible says he built the first Temple in Jerusalem,
but I went to the area where the Temple
was supposed to have been
and couldn't find a single scrap of evidence for it.
Then I looked up Solomon's old girlfriends,
and even though I did uncover a strong tradition
involving the Queen of Sheba,
it isn't exactly what I would call an archaeological slam-dunk.
A map- Oh no it's this way.
[SIMCHA] But maybe there's another approach
The Bible says Solomon built up several cities
throughout ancient Israel.
One of the cities mentioned by name is Megiddo.
So if Solomon really was the King that the Bible says he was
then it would make sense that he would have left behind
some kind of monumental architecture.
[sIMCHA] Back in the s
a team of archaeologists from Chicago
found monumental architecture:
a set of gates that they dated to the Century BCE
and immediately identified as Solomon's.
In fact, there's even a sign here
that says it's a Solomonic Gate.
But that assessment is now under att*ck
from a new wave of archaeologists
who minimize the accuracy of the Biblical narrative.
One of them is Professor Norma Franklin
and she says that the sign they posted is a little misleading.
This is the Chicago School, right? They were working...
This is their illustration. They actually-
Here, come over here, come over here, look at this.
It says Megiddo became and Israelite city
sometime in the th, th century BC,
and sometime later a massive wall and a monumental city gate
were built, they called it then a Solomonic Gate.
Didn't they?
First I would like to tell you about the excavation.
How the Chicago team got to this gate.
Okay.
They came here specifically looking for the gate.
The Chicago team?
The Chicago team.
They came here with preconceived ideas.
Find a gate, find Solomon's gate, not anybody's gate.
Not very scientific. -Not very scientific.
[SIMCHA] But I still wasn't convinced.
Just because the archaeologists from Chicago
came here specifically looking for Solomon's gates
doesn't mean that the gates they found
don't belong to Solomon.
Okay, now what I want to understand.
It's not unreasonable for people, they read in the bible,
Solomon built up these cities
Everybody always says, well, if he's such a big sh*t in history,
there should be monumental structures.
It's not unreasonable to look for gates that are monumental,
because that's where you built your monumental structures,
at least, one of the places.
It's totally understandable, given human nature.
If you're gonna show off, that's a good place to do it.
It's a nice place to show off,
and this was one heck of a gate to show off.
How can you be so sure that this is not the th?
I know what's going on here in the th,
I know what's going on here in the th century.
And that's why I know this isn't th.
This is th, not th
You, like, find movie posters, that sort of thing?
Oh yes. We find certain building techniques.
One of the building techniques from the th
that does not appear in the th
is the mixture of field stones and ashlars.
[SIMCHA] Ashlars are a type of masonry:
rectangular blocks cut out of stone,
used in both foundations and facades.
Like the ones found in this city gate.
These ashlars, these stones are expensive.
So when you need them to be load-bearing
you use ashlars.
Where you don't need them use field stones
and this is an important technique for dating.
Why don't you come down and tell me why, so-
Ok.
Here in this gate we have two very clear examples
of building techniques that date to the th Century.
One is the use of ashlars and field stones. Mixed.
We don't have that in the th century
and we definitely don't have it in the th.
Then, you have this, which is a clear reuse of a stone
from an earlier period. It has a place that's cut down.
This is a slightly higher level.
It's also been turned on its side.
It was recessed to hold the next course,
the next building course.
And why is that important in terms of the debate?
If these stones had been taken from an earlier building,
and you're saying that this gate is th century, right,
that means it had to have been taken from a building
that used these sort of techniques
that existed in the th century.
Ah, so you're saying this is used,
this is, this is a reused stone?
Yes.
If it's reused, and if it's Solomon's time,
that means he's using it from an earlier date...
Yes.
And nobody in an earlier date
knew how to make things like this.
It's not a question of knowledge.
They just didn't do it.
They didn't do it.
I love this, 'cause it's actual detective work.
This is detective work.
Don't you just love archaeology?
[SIMCHA] I have to admit I was a bit disappointed
that Norma Franklin thinks this isn't Solomon's gate.
But to cheer me up, she promised to show me
some archaeology that does date to Solomon's time.
Is this th century here?
Down here.
Can I stand here and close my eyes
and you'll bring me something th century?
Yes, yes.
I'll put out my hand.
Both of them perhaps, we'll see.
Both my hands, okay.
Ok. It's only a piece.
I'm very excited Norma.
There you are.
Can I open my eyes?
Yep. I wish I could find you a whole one,
This is a mud brick. All the buildings full of temps-
Are you pulling my leg?
No, of course I'm not pulling your leg.
Why would I do that?
You've taken King Solomon, the builder of the temple.
You know, the three...
What is wrong with mud bricks?
The three big gates, and you've reduced him to this?
You see, I knew you'd be disappointed.
Doesn't the bible say that he built stuff
from giant rock, marble, gold.
This contradicts the biblical narrative.
No, because the people who wrote the bible
knew that the people reading the bible
would have exactly the same problem you have,
no vision regarding mud brick architecture.
So they changed the story?
They changed the story.
I'm trying to have vision here, Norma.
I'm concentrating...
I'm seeing all kinds of wonderful structures.
[SIMCHA] I see Solomon and his temple,
and all of his women,
and the Queen of Sheba? is there too,
and he's building large gates out of marble and gold...
But I just can't seem to reconcile
what the Bible says about King Solomon
with this puny mud brick.
Let's just leave this little mud brick.
Little partial mud-brick...
[SIMCAH] But then again, Professor Franklin
isn't the only archaeologist in the phone book.
And Megiddo wasn't the only city
that Solomon was supposed to have built.
The Bible tells us he also built at the city of Hazor.
Maybe I'll have more luck
finding something from Solomon there.
[SIMCHA] I've been looking for evidence of Solomon
and so far archaeologists have only managed
to show me one lousy mud-brick
that can be dated to his reign
back in the th Century BCE.
See I knew you'd be disappointed.
[SIMCHA] So, I'm going back into the Bible,
which tells me Solomon built up another city
and that city is named Hazor.
If there's anything at Hazor that's monumental
and dates to the th BCE
then I might have the proof I need
to say that Solomon was a real historical figure.
So we're on our way to meet Professor Amnon Ben-Tor
who's been the Director of the Hazor excavations
for some years
and see if he's got some answers.
Take us wherever you want and...
What, no, we were talking about the Bible.
A Biblical site.
Okay. So, this is Biblical rubble.
Ah, this is more Biblical than that.
That's more Biblical?
Ya.
Okay let's go look at the Biblical rubble here...
Is this somebody's living room?
No.
What is this?
This is a Solomonic Gate.
A Solomonic gate.
You mean a gate from the time of King Solomon.
Yah.
How does someone know
that this is Solomon and not somebody else?
Everything is chronology.
Everything about archaeology is chronology.
If you cannot assign a date to it,
it's almost meaningless. Alright?
And one of the most important means
to assign a date is pottery typology.
Pottery changes over time.
Pottery changes rather quickly, because it breaks,
because it's cheap to make.
So once it breaks, you make a new one,
and like fashion-
Future archaeologists will be able to tell by...
By modes of cars.
Cars?
By cars. By dresses.
One year the woman all go with short dresses,
another year they go with long dresses.
But then they go to short dresses again.
It confuses future archaeology.
No, no, no. But then you put it together with something else.
Shorter dress, the long dress with this type of car,
the short...it's...
You have to match it all up.
Once this is dated to the th Century,
and it is monumental, it can be in the time of David,
or Solomon.
You cannot tell the difference between the pottery
of David and the pottery of Solomon
because they are both too close and there is no difference.
Since it says in the Bible that it was built by Solomon,
I go with Solomon, and if you want to say it's David
then the burden of proof is on you. Not on me. Okay?
Okay. I get it.
This is it. Three chambers on one side,
three chambers on the other.
[SIMCHA] These gates have chambers
exactly like the gates I just saw at Megiddo.
What you're looking at are the foundations.
It was maybe five meters tall. There were gates.
There were doors. Which were made out of wood.
Giant wooden doors.
Ya.
[SIMCHA] Professor Ben-Tor tells me
that the similarities found between the Megiddo
and the Hatzor gates are no coincidence.
By linking pottery shards and gates,
he says both these gates, and another set of gates
found in the city of Gezer,
all date to the tenth century BCE.
When it says that Solomon built Hatzor,
Megiddo and Gezer and you have
three exactly similar gates at Hatzor,
Megiddo and Gezer. In my mind...
You know what they say in British Common Law.
If it waddles like a duck, and quacks like a duck,
it's a duck.
That's what I think.
So the bible says three...
It's a duck.
If it quacks like a duck. It's a duck.
Yep.
You're saying the Bible says King Solomon
built three cities, Hatzor, Magido and Gezer.
All three cities have similar gates-
Quack, quack, quack.
[SIMCHA] If Professor Ben-Tor is right
about the gates found here at Hazor
and they do actually date to the th Century BCE,
then they perfectly fit the Bible's description
of Solomon's building projects perfectly.
Not only that, but they also call into question
whether or not the archaeologists at Megiddo
have dated their gates properly.
But if Norma Franklin and her colleagues are right,
then King Solomon falls right out of the history books.
But then, what else would fall out with him?
King David? The entire Messianic line
all the way down to Jesus? Oh my Godness.
That means Christmas, Hanukah...
I don't even want to think about it.
Luckily there's one more city
that Solomon was supposed to have fortified,
and that city is named Gezer.
Maybe Gezer will be the tie-breaker
that tips the scale in Solomon's favour...
But that journey is going to have to wait until next time,
when I undress a whole new set of clues
about the Biblical King Solomon.
02x06 - The Legacy of King Solomon: Part 1
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Show examines biblical stories and tries to find proof for them by exploring the Holy Land looking for archaeological evidence, personal inferences, deductions, and interviews with scholars and experts.
Show examines biblical stories and tries to find proof for them by exploring the Holy Land looking for archaeological evidence, personal inferences, deductions, and interviews with scholars and experts.