Hiram I

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Hiram I (Hebrew חִירָם "high-born", Standard Hebrew Ḥiram, Tiberian Hebrew Ḥîrām) was king of Tyre from 969 BC to 936 BC, succeeding his father, Abibaal. During his reign, Tyre grew from a satellite of Sidon into the most important of Phoenician cities, and the holder of a large trading empire. Hiram suppressed the rebellion of the first Tyrean colony at Utica, near the later site of Carthage.

Hiram allied himself with king Solomon of Israel, the upcoming power of the region; together they would fill the power gap left by the retreat of Egypt when Assyria and Damascus were unable to do so. Through the alliance with Solomon, Hiram ensured himself access to the major trade routes to Egypt, Arabia and Mesopotamia. The two kings also joined forces in starting a trade route over the Red Sea, connecting the Israelite harbour of Ezion-Geber with a land called Ophir.

Both kings grew rich through this trade. Hiram sent Solomon architects, workmen and cedar wood to build the First Temple in Jerusalem. He also extended the Tyrean harbour, enlarged the city by joining the two islands on which it was built, and built a royal palace and a temple for Melqart.

Hiram was succeeded as king of Tyre by Baal-Eser I (935-919).

Hiram I is sometimes identified with Hiram Abif, revered by the Freemasons for his part in the construction of Solomon's Temple. Others assert that the two Hirams are separate people, and that Hiram Abif should instead be identified with the "cunning man" sent by King Hiram to help erect the temple in 2 Chronicles 2:13-14. During the height of Masonic membership in the United States, Hiram became a common name.de:Hiram I. (Tyros) es:Hiram I de Tiro fr:Hiram nl:Hiram ja:ヒラム pl:Hiram I pt:Hiram I de Tiro ru:Хирам I Великий