If we circle Mt. Timna with the bus, rather than hiking up and down it, we make our first stop on the southwest side of the mountain at "Solomon's Pillars." Glueck (p. 77) dated most of the pottery shards here, as well as those in other copper-mining sites near the Arava, to the time of Solomon and after. The Biblical account of Solomon's wealth, including his seafaring expeditions from Ezion-Geber in quest of gold, led Glueck to entitle a chapter "King Solomon's Copper Mines." From this the pillars get their name. Today, however, archaeologists attribute most of Timna's pottery to the Egyptians of the 12th century BC. There are also earlier shards from the Chalcolithic (Copper-stone) Era, and later examples from the Midianites. No trace of Solomon.

The pillars are made of sandstone, that is, of quartz nuggets bound by natural cement, containing iron, manganese and copper. The cement is vulnerable to erosion. It is conceivable that during the formation of the Syro-African rift, the mountain developed cracks. Water got into the cracks and sculpted these forms.

The effect is impressive, especially when we lie near the base of the pillars and look up. The ancient Egyptians too were impressed. On the nearby hill just west of us, they apparently conducted religious rites. The north end of that hill, slightly higher than the rest, forms a natural altar in the direction of the pillars. Near this altar are human-made cup-like depressions, probably for receiving libations.   

A staircase leads up from the temple to a rock ledge where one can see an engraving in the cliff face, unnoticed until 1972. The inscription tells us what is represented: Pharaoh Rameses III (who ruled from 1184 until 1153 BC) brings an offering to Hathor.

In the Harris Papyrus, a boast is placed in the mouth of Rameses III. (Since the journey from Timna to Egypt is equally arduous by land and sea, archaeologist Beno Rothenberg (p. 201) suggested that "Atika" may have been Timna.) "I sent forth my messenger to the country of Atika, to the great copper (hmt) mines which are in this place. Their galleys carried them; others on their land-journey were upon their asses. It has not been heard before, since kings reign. Their mines were found abounding in copper; it was loaded by 10,000's into their galleys. They were sent forward to Egypt, and arrived safely. It was carried and made into a heap under the balcony, in many bars of copper, like hundred-thousands, being the color of gold of three times. I allowed all the people to see them, like wonders."

In the last half of the 12th century BC, the temple changed hands. The Egyptians, facing civil strife at home, withdrew from Timna. The pottery attests that Midianites took over. Indigenous to the region, they had probably been laborers under the Egyptians. To them the archaeologists attribute a large quantity of linen and wool, dyed red and yellow and interwoven with pearls, found just inside the east and west walls of the structure. So much cloth led to the conclusion that the Midianites had turned the temple into a tent sanctuary. They had also broken the images of Hathor, setting up instead a series of standing stones (massebot) along the western wall.

To the Midianites the archaeologists also attributed a copper snake with a gilded head, not quite five inches long, the sole find from the Holy of Holies. (Pictured in the website of the Nechushtan Pavilion, Haaretz Museum. (After reaching its page, go to Permanent Exhibitions and choose "5" for the Nechushtan Pavilion. Use the arrows above the picture on the right.)