In Search of King Solomon's Mines
Encyclopedia
In Search of King Solomon's Mines is a travel book by Anglo-Afghan author, Tahir Shah
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It began with a map in Jerusalem. The map showed a trail leading to the fabled mines of King Solomon, who built the first temple of Israel out of gold, mined from the land of Ophir
. Solomon’s Mines have enthralled and tormented all those who have searched for them and superstition whispers of terrible curses that will befall anyone that finds them. Bewiched by the legends, Tahir Shah decided to take up the quest.
Chasing clues gathered from passed traveler’s tales, and local folklore to the Septuagint, the copper scroll, and the Kebra Negast, Shah is led to Ethiopia
, whose empress traces decent from the son born to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, and where gold has been mined for millennia.
In Harar
, he feeds wild hyenas that are said the guard Solomon’s treasure. With Samson, a miner-turner-taxi driver, he visits an illegal gold mine near Shakiso
, where hundreds of men, women and children toil in a biblical Hell.
In the Emperor Haile Selassie's jeep, he explores the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela
, where the gold of Sheba is kept and ventures on to Afar
, possibly ancient Ophir. Shah’s desire is to reach the cursed mountain of Tulu Wallel
, where decades before an English adventurer called Frank Hayter claimed to have discovered the gold mines of King Solomon.
Tahir Shah
Tahir Shah , né Sayyid Tahir al-Hashimi is an Anglo-Afghan Indian author, journalist and documentary maker. He lives in Casablanca, Morocco.-Family origins and life:...
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It began with a map in Jerusalem. The map showed a trail leading to the fabled mines of King Solomon, who built the first temple of Israel out of gold, mined from the land of Ophir
Ophir
Ophir is a port or region mentioned in the Bible, famous for its wealth. King Solomon is supposed to have received a cargo of gold, silver, sandalwood, precious stones, ivory, apes and peacocks from Ophir, every three years.- Citations :...
. Solomon’s Mines have enthralled and tormented all those who have searched for them and superstition whispers of terrible curses that will befall anyone that finds them. Bewiched by the legends, Tahir Shah decided to take up the quest.
Chasing clues gathered from passed traveler’s tales, and local folklore to the Septuagint, the copper scroll, and the Kebra Negast, Shah is led to Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, whose empress traces decent from the son born to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, and where gold has been mined for millennia.
In Harar
Harar
Harar is an eastern city in Ethiopia, and the capital of the modern Harari ethno-political division of Ethiopia...
, he feeds wild hyenas that are said the guard Solomon’s treasure. With Samson, a miner-turner-taxi driver, he visits an illegal gold mine near Shakiso
Shakiso
Shakiso is a town in southern Ethiopia. Located in the Gujii Zone of the Oromia Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation of 1758 meters above sea level....
, where hundreds of men, women and children toil in a biblical Hell.
In the Emperor Haile Selassie's jeep, he explores the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela
Lalibela
Lalibela is a town in northern Ethiopia, known for its monolithic churches. Lalibela is one of Ethiopia's holiest cities, second only to Aksum, and is a center of pilgrimage for much of the country. Unlike Aksum, the population of Lalibela is almost completely Ethiopian Orthodox Christian...
, where the gold of Sheba is kept and ventures on to Afar
Afar
Afar may refer to:*Afar people, ethnic group principally residing in Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia*Afar Insurgency, alternative name for the Djiboutian Civil War of November 1991-December 1994*Afar Triangle, a geological depression near the Horn of Africa...
, possibly ancient Ophir. Shah’s desire is to reach the cursed mountain of Tulu Wallel
Mount Welel
Mount Welel is a mountain in southwestern Ethiopia. Located in the Mirab Welega Zone of the Oromia Region, it has a latitude and longitude of and an elevation of above sea level...
, where decades before an English adventurer called Frank Hayter claimed to have discovered the gold mines of King Solomon.