Hiram I was the Phoenician king ofTyre according to the Hebrew Bible. His regnal years have been calculated by some as 980 to 947 BC, in succession to his father, Abibaal. Hiram was succeeded as king of Tyre by his son Baal-Eser I. Hiram is also mentioned in the writings of Menander of Ephesus, as preserved in Josephus'sAgainst Apion, which adds to the biblical account. According to Josephus, Hiram lived for 53 years and reigned 34.
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. The Hebrew Bible says that he allied himself with David, king of the United Kingdom of Israel and his artisans built David's palace in Jerusalem after his capture of the city. The palace was built using Lebanon Cedar. After David's death, Hiram maintained his alliance with David's son and successor Solomon, again as an equal Through the alliance with Solomon, Hiram ensured himself access to the major trade routes to Egypt, Arabia and Mesopotamia. The two kings also jointly opened a trade route over the Red Sea, connecting the Israelite harbour of Ezion-Geber with a land called Ophir. Some schools of thought suggest that this land of Ophir was in the Philippines or the port city ofSopara near modern Mumbai, India. 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. Modern archaeology, however, has found no evidence for these expansions.
Hypotheses regarding the chronology of Hiram's reign
The beginning date of Hiram's reign is derived from a statement by Josephus, citing both Tyrian court records and the writings of Menander, relating that 143 years passed between the start of construction of Solomon's Temple until the founding of Carthage. Josephus also related that Hiram's reign began 155 years and 8 months before this event, and that construction of Solomon's Temple began in the twelfth year of Hiram's reign, which would be 143 years before the building of Carthage. As pointed out by William Barnes, the date for the start of Temple construction using the Tyrian data is derived "wholly independently" of the way that date is derived using the Scriptural data.
The "Tomb of Hiram"
The "Tomb of Hiram" dates from the Persian period, 4–6 centuries after the presumed time of Hiram. It is located ca. 6 kilometres southeast of Tyre, near the village of Hanaouayon the road to Qana. It has the form of a colossal limestone sarcophagus on a pedestal.
In modern fiction
King Hiram is a character in the time travel story Ivory, and Apes, and Peacocks by Poul Anderson.
