King Solomon was known for his knowledge, wealth, and power, and his name is associated with many stories. He erected the First Temple of Jerusalem with the help of the Shamir, a substance or gadget (also called a worm) that could cut through stone, iron, and even diamond, according to a fascinating story from Talmudic literature.
Even by today’s standards, such a material or equipment would be deemed sophisticated. It would have been considered nothing short of amazing in the 10th century BC.
Could the Shamir have been a creation of alien technology, given the probability of aliens visiting Earth in ancient times?
Solomon, according to legend, wanted the temple to promote peace, therefore he avoided using tools that may produce murder and battle.
The Shamir was said to have existed during Moses’ time, as one of the 10 wonders built on the eve of the first Sabbath, shortly before YHWH concluded creation, according to the Talmud and the Midrashim.
The Shamir is said to have been used by Moses to engrave the Hoshen (Priestly Breastplate) stones that were inserted into the breastplate. King Solomon, who was aware of the Shamir’s existence but not its location, ordered a search that yielded a “grain of Shamir the size of a barley-corn.”
The Shamir is said to have been used in the construction of Solomon’s Temple by Solomon’s workmen. Being “shown to the Shamir” had an effect on the material to be worked, whether it was stone, wood, or metal.
Early Rabbinical thinkers regarded the Shamir nearly as a living entity, based on this argument (anything that can be ‘shown’ something must have eyes to see).
However, other early accounts depict it as a green stone.
“For the house, while it was being built, was built of stone prepared at the quarry; and there was no hammer nor ax nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was being built,” it says in the Book of Kings.
“The stones moved of their own accord; they flew and rose up by themselves, establishing themselves in the Temple wall and built it,” the midrash says.
The story of how King Solomon came into possession of the Shamir differs. Some believe Asmodeus, the demon king, gave it to him, while others say it was carried to him by a holy eagle. It was no bigger than a “single grain of barley-corn” in any event.
The way the Shamir had to be preserved, though, is the most intriguing component of it. Because regular vessels decomposed, they were unfit to store it. It had to be wrapped in wool and stored in a lead box filled with barley bran instead.
This lends weight to the narrative, as folkloristic tales would not suggest that a leaden box would be more resistant than one made of iron or gold.
The most perplexing aspect of this tale is that no one knows exactly who the Shamir was.
In addition, King Solomon’s treasured possession did not last. The Shamir, according to Hebrew sources, became dormant as time progressed. The temple had lost all of its powers by the time Nebuchadnezzar demolished it in 587 BC.
Many people have concluded that the Shamir was radioactive because of this description. Is it possible that King Solomon was one of the few humans chosen to receive alien technology?
