A Natural Treasure
When my friends and I decided to take a road trip from Jerusalem to Eilat, Israel I had no idea we’d be going to the Timna Valley. I was astonished at the beauty, history and majesty of this ancient place.
According to Wikipedia: The Timna Valley is located in southern Israel in the southwestern Arabah, approximately 30 kilometres north of the Gulf of Aqaba and the town of Eilat. The area is rich in copper ore and has been mined since the 5th millennium BCE.
Entering the Timna Valley Park, we were greeted with these beautiful Palms and Israeli Flags.
In some ways it looked like parts of the Arizona desert and yet there was something otherworldly to it and that’s because mining here can be traced back to the time of King Solomon.
There is some copper noticeable on the rock below.
According to BiblePlaces.com:
Copper Mining
“An early explorer in this region, Nelson Glueck, believed that Solomon mined at Timna. Archaeological investigation after Glueck concluded that there was no mining activity during Solomon’s time. But the latest research concludes that the peak of production was during Solomon’s rule, perhaps by his Edomite subjects. Copper was mined here during the Chalcolithic, Early Bronze, Late Bronze-Iron II, and Roman periods. The copper ingots produced here were transported elsewhere to be made into tools. Copper was a very important metal in the ancient world because of its use in bronze. Over 10,000 mining shafts have been found in the Timna Valley. An Israeli company, Timna Copper Mines, Ltd., mined in this area until the price of copper decreased in the 1970s. References in the Bible to copper metal and mining include Deuteronomy 8:9, Job 28:2, Ezekiel 22:20.”
According to Bible Places.com The Temple of Hathor was found here
“Egyptian miners in the 13th century built a temple to the goddess Hathor against the face of Solomon’s Pillars. The excavators found hundreds of Egyptian objects including seals, jewelry, and art objects. The temple was rectangular, may have been covered with a fabric material, and had a niche for a deity figurine. Hathor was the Egyptian goddess of love, and served as the patron god of miners. Depictions of Hathor were found in the temple art and architecture.”
A frontal view of Solomon’s Pillars shows just how majestic and awe inspiring they are.
As we continued through the park we came across so many gorgeous rock formations that is was difficult to take it all in or get photos of them all!!
There’s even a Tabernacle in the park and the public can take tours. Close by is a lake with paddle boats, red dirt for making colorful bottle art and a gorgeous Bedouin style outdoor restaurant with gift shop. It’s a fabulous place to spend the day or even camp overnight!!
That completed a very exciting and interesting trip into Timna Valley Park. We were so ready for a dip in the Red Sea at Eilat after trekking in the hot desert all afternoon!!
