Hiram I
Hiram I | |
---|---|
King of Tyre | |
Reign | 980–947 BC (?) |
Predecessor | Abibaal, ?? – 981 BC (?) |
Successor | Baal-Eser I (Beleazarus I, Ba'l-mazzer I) 946–930 BC (?) |
Born | 1000 BC (?) Tyre, presumed |
Died | 947 or 946 BC, presumed |
Dynasty | Dynasty of Abibaal and Hiram I |
Father | Abibaal |
Mother | Unknown |
Hiram I (
Reign
During Hiram's reign, Tyre grew from a satellite of Sidon into the most important of Phoenician cities, and the holder of a large trading empire. He suppressed the rebellion of the first Tyrean colony at Utica, near the later site of Carthage (Against Apion i:18).
The
According to the Bible, both kings grew rich through this trade, and Hiram sent Solomon architects, workmen, cedar wood, and gold to build the First Temple in Jerusalem. Josephus says that he also extended the Tyrean harbour, enlarged the city by joining the two islands on which it was built, and constructed a royal palace and a temple for Melqart (Against Apion i:17). Modern archaeology, however, has found no evidence for these expansions.[11]
Hypotheses regarding chronology of reign
The beginning date of Hiram's reign is derived from a statement by
As pointed out by William Barnes (1801–1886), the date for the start of Temple construction using the Tyrian data is derived "wholly independently" of the way that date is derived by using the Scriptural data.[13]
"Tomb of Hiram"
The "Tomb of Hiram" (Qabr Hiram) dates from the Persian period, four to six centuries after the presumed time of Hiram.[14] It is built 6 km southeast of Tyre, near the village of Hanaouay, on the road to Qana[14] and has the form of a colossal limestone sarcophagus on a pedestal.[14]
In modern fiction
King Hiram is a character in the time travel story Ivory, and Apes, and Peacocks (1983) by Poul Anderson.
Namesakes
In 1829, the Town of Tyre was formed in Seneca County in the state of New York and the choice of its name was presumably inspired by ancient Tyre, according to the Town Historian. Likewise, its Hiram Lay Cobblestone Farmhouse, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was apparently named after the Phoenician king.[15]
In the Southern Lebanese city of Tyre there is a neighbourhood called Hay Hiram, located in Tyre's northern municipality of Abassiyat. Hiram Hospital is based in that neighbourhood and nearby there is a Hiram Pharmacy. In the centre of Tyre's Sour municipality main street is named after Hiram (spelled Hyram on Google Maps). Hiram Street suffers from high traffic congestion, air and noise pollution.[16]
See also
- List of kings of Tyre
- Pygmalion for discussion of date of founding of Carthage used by Menander
References
- ^ Ellicott's Commentary for Modern Readers on 2 Samuel 5, accessed 11 July 2017
- ^ Vance, Donald R. (March 1994) "Literary Sources for the History of Palestine and Syria: The Phœnician Inscriptions" The Biblical Archaeologist 57(1) 2–19.
- ^ 2 Samuel 5:11
- ^ 1 Kings 5:1
- ^ 1 Chronicles 14:1)
- ^ 1 Kings 9:13
- ^ Amos 1:9
- Michael D. Coogan, A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament page 213–214, Oxford University Press, 2009
- ^ 2 Chronicles 8:16,17
- A. L. Basham, The Wonder That Was India page 232, PicadorIndia
- ISBN 978-1405155519.
- ^ Against Apion i:17,18.
- ^ William H. Barnes, Studies in the Chronology of the Divided Monarchy of Israel (Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1991) 31.
- ^ a b c Livius.org, The "Tomb of Hiram" at Hannaouiye, accessed 06 October 2021
- ^ "A Brief History of Tyre". Town of Tyre. 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
- ^ Maguire, Suzanne; Majzoub, Maya (2016). Osseiran, Tarek (ed.). "TYRE CITY PROFILE" (PDF). reliefweb. UN HABITAT Lebanon. pp. 15, 89, 94–95. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-09. Retrieved 26 August 2020.