The Alleged King Solomon Reign: The Biblical Golden Age | The Immortal Gazette
As the soft hum of the Immortal Gazette studio settled in, the familiar faces of Alice, Loki, and Rumple leaned back in their chairs, ready for another stroll down history’s twisted and golden path. The story today? A tale of King Solomon—the allegedly wise and wealthy ruler of Israel, who ruled during what some called a golden age.
Loki, ever the lover of ancient intrigue, cracked a smile. “Ah, King Solomon. The wisest man to ever live, they say. Famous for his wisdom and his—what’s the word?—exquisite taste in treasure?” He adjusted his goatee as though it needed a bit of extra flair, clearly enjoying himself. “I’m sure we’ll get to the ‘golden age’ bit soon, but first, let’s set the stage.”
Alice grinned wickedly, twirling a mysterious silver spoon between her fingers. “Oh, yes. The golden age of Solomon’s reign. Now, let’s set the record straight—this wasn’t some fairytale kingdom where everyone held hands and sang. No, no, no—Solomon’s reign was a bit too perfect for comfort, don't you think?” Her voice was dripping with sarcasm. “But let’s humor the mortals for a moment and pretend it was just about the glistening gold, the legendary wisdom, and all those glorious, super-legal wives.”
Rumple scoffed from the side. “Wives? Oh, do tell, Alice. Please don’t skip that part. 700 wives and 300 concubines. That’s a kingdom of complicated relationships right there, don’t you think?” He leaned in, clearly entertained. “What would even possess a man to juggle that many women—and still keep a reign under control?”
Alice shot him a playful yet dangerous look. “Ah, don’t act like you wouldn’t want to keep a few… well, more than a few in line, Rumple. I’m sure you could use some organizational skills in that department.” She raised a brow. “Solomon’s golden age wasn’t just about a palace filled with treasure. It was also about power. The kind of power you get from controlling the resources of an entire kingdom and *impressing everyone with your wisdom.”
Loki, ever the connoisseur of chaotic legends, nodded. “True. Solomon was more than just a king with an endless harem. He was the man who allegedly made the world bend with his wisdom. Famous for the Judgement of Solomon, where he cleverly solved the case of two women fighting over a child.” He let out a low chuckle. “You see, Alice? This is where we get to the ‘golden’ part. Solomon was so wise that he literally divided an empire... or at least, he did it with clever words, not swords.”
Alice snorted. “Ah, wisdom, Loki. Let me tell you something about wisdom. Sure, Solomon had a reputation for being a wise ruler, but did anyone ever stop to wonder if some of that wisdom came from divine intervention? No mortal, no matter how sharp, could come up with something as twisted as Solomon’s famous ‘split the baby’ trick without a little help from the heavens.”
Loki smirked, obviously enjoying the banter. “You’re saying he was blessed by the gods? Surely, he wasn’t just that good.”
Alice’s eyes gleamed with mystery. “Oh, you’d be surprised, Loki. Solomon’s wealth was said to come from both divine favor and his own ability to manipulate those around him. The man made alliances with everyone. He built a temple—the Temple of Solomon—which became the center of Jewish worship and the symbol of divine connection. This man was untouchable in his time. He was even said to have spoken to animals, controlled the wind, and—” Alice gave an exaggerated pause, as if she couldn’t believe the next part, “—summoned demons to do his bidding. He may have had a few ‘loopholes’ in his approach to power, but who’s counting?”
Rumple raised a brow. “Summoning demons? I’m intrigued. But why not go after some of the real fun stuff, like, I don’t know… actual wars for territory? Solomon wasn’t exactly your classic ‘conqueror’ type, was he?”
Alice smirked. “Ah, but that’s where the golden age part comes in. Solomon didn’t need to go to war. He had peace for the entire length of his reign. That was his golden age.” She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing as she spoke slowly, “But you can bet there was a price for that peace. He kept peace by doing what any clever king does—making deals. Alliances, trade, and the promise of wealth and wisdom to anyone who’d come to him with an offering. Solomon wasn’t about war—he was about balance, and his wealth came from being at the right place at the right time. He ruled over a kingdom where commerce flowed like rivers, and his land was rich with resources. Gold, ivory, precious stones—that was his empire.”
Loki raised his glass, half-smiling. “Ah, yes, the perfect ruler. Too perfect, if you ask me.” He gave a dramatic pause. “But tell me, Alice, you’ve been hinting at some darkness beneath all that golden grandeur. What was really going on behind closed doors?”
Alice gave him a knowing look, like she was about to reveal the real secret. “Well, my dear Loki, there’s always more to a golden age than what meets the eye. You see, Solomon’s later years were filled with strife. The kingdom that was built on wisdom and wealth began to unravel as Solomon—this wise, almighty king—fell victim to his own flaws. His numerous marriages to foreign princesses brought in foreign gods and idols, leading him down a path of corruption.” She leaned back, savoring the moment. “The kingdom divided, and his sons would inherit a shattered empire.”
Rumple nodded solemnly. “I see. It’s the classic case of too much power leading to too much distraction. Solomon couldn’t even keep his own kingdom intact when he turned his back on the very wisdom he was known for.”
Loki, as always, seemed unfazed, giving a mock bow. “So, let’s summarize, shall we? A king, blessed with wisdom and wealth, creates a ‘golden age’ full of peace and prosperity—but at the cost of his own soul. And in the end? His empire crumbles due to his own missteps.”
Alice clapped her hands. “Exactly. And that, Loki, is what makes the tale of King Solomon so tragic. Even the wisest man on Earth couldn’t outrun the chaos of his own desires. The golden age wasn’t about wealth, or wisdom—it was about balance. And when that balance tipped, the golden age was over.”
Rumple rubbed his hands together. “A good lesson in hubris, if you ask me. Never trust someone with too much power... even if they can talk to animals and summon demons.”
Loki smirked. “Ah, yes, especially if they can talk to demons.”
Alice leaned back, her tone mischievous. “And that, dear mortals, is the tale of the alleged King Solomon—the man who had it all, but lost it in the end. His reign was golden, but even gold fades, doesn’t it?”
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