Aside from its prominent Masonic significance, the Temple of Jerusalem (a.k.a: The Temple of Solomon) has served as a mythical reference about the origins of that unique form of art known as: Architecture, and, therefore, most of its formal and narrative elements have also served to build a world of analogical and symbolic references which, comprise the essential and doctrinal content of such professional activity in history. In one way or another, the true story behind the construction of this magnificent edifice might not be as it is usually told, and as Free-Masons-Thinkers-Examiners, we must accept that we are dealing with a mythological account of events, and we must understand it and interpret it solely as an allegory. Let us not forget, after all, that one of the definitions of mythology is "Š that, which never was, and shall always be Š".
In essence, the story of the Temple of Solomon relates the story of the eagerness of man in achieving perfection, by way of constant labor.
In order to understand our forebrothers 's determination to create/build something perfect, we must not forget that the Temple of Solomon was not, exactly, a colossal place of worship, where the faithful could gather whenever and however they pleased, but, the abode of the Ark of the Covenant, Guardian Coffer of the Tablets of the Law and symbol of the alliance between Jehovah-Adonai and his chosen people, the Jews. For that reason, the Temple of Solomon, is, properly, the conjunction of three pieces/parts: Ulam, Hekal and Debir, which, vulgarly translated, are: the Courtyard/Porch, the Holy Precinct and the Holy of Holies. The Temple of Solomon becomes, then, not only a model of architecture, but, an archetype, a sovereign and eternal undertaking that serves as an example to the Reason and Will of men. Having understood this, we are able to comprehend the essential nature of such a singular edifice and the character of its occupant: God. The temple shall provide shelter to the Sign of his Pact with Men, and shall be erected to his Glory, in order to demonstrate his Solitary Magnificence. Thus, the structure of this edifice shall seek and aspire Perfection, for he who inspires it is Perfect.
It is commonly believed that at about the year 960 B.C., the legendary King Solomon began this monumental search for perfection, which, in more esoteric circles, is known as the crowning jewel of his Hermetic Knowledge. According to the Talmud, Solomon was an expert in Kabbalah. He also had a vast knowledge of Alchemy and Necromancy, and was capable of conjuring and controlling spirits and elemental demons, from whom he acquired a considerable part of his legendary wisdom. McGregor Mathers, co-founder of the Golden Dawn, recognizes the possibility that Solomon was a true Magi-cian in the most ample sense/meaning of the word. A hypothesis which is based on the writings of the jewish historian Flavius Josefus, who makes a particular mention on the magical works and supernatural attributes of this king. This, is, in like manner, reflected in many oriental traditions that under-line, among many others, the magical faculties of Solomon, as it is frequently indicated, for example, in the "One Thousand and One Nights". Thus, the medieval alchemists were convinced that this mysterious monarch knew all the secret treatises of Hermes Trismegistus, and, that, thanks to them, not only was he able to transmute metals, but, also, to fabricate the "Philosopher's Stone". It is also believed that Solomon knew how to control the "Incorporeal Essence of the Universal Spirit", a knowledge that must have assisted him in the construction of the Temple. Moreover, according to ancient rabbis, Solomon had been simultaneously initiated in the Mystery Schools, being his temple a place for future initiates. Every adornment and architectural detail such as: checkered floors, winding stairs, steps, pillars, the Babylonian cherubs and every alcove arrangement indicate, in fact, that the temple had been erected according to models and patterns taken from Egypt. Michelle Lamy reminds us, in his "The Other History of the Templars", that, Solomon ordered other altars and sanctuaries to be erected for some "foreign divinities". He personally consecrated temples to Astarte "the abomination of the Sidonians", and to Milkom "the horror of the Ammonites".
And thus, it occurred, that in the bosom of one of the most revered terrestrial monarchies, the alleged first Temple of God was erected. The Torah, the Talmud and the Old Testament clearly narrate the traditions according to which, it was the very Yahweh-Adonai whom, ultimately, ordered when, how and by whom the Temple shall be constructed. In the first book of Chronicles, we find King David exclaiming: "Š Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building: But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood. Š" For this mission, out of all David's sons, God selected Solomon: "Š And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father Š"
And so, it happened, that when Solomon decided to finally carry out Yahwe-Adonai's command, he sought the help of Hiram, King of Tyre, since such a monumental task required an experienced Architect with superior skills in that profession, and, foremost, a Knowledge and Masterliness of that Sacred Geometry which comprises the Secret Doctrine of Numbers and Shapes. Henceforth, the Phoenician Monarch sent Hiram-Abiff, the forger, in order that he could take charge of the sacred work. Based on their previous accords, Hiram of Tyre provided Solomon with a vast assortment of raw materials, mainly woods of cedar and cypress. He also sent him specialized workers: carpenters and stone-cutters hired out of Guebal, where the very Egyptians used to recruit their qualified handiwork. The temple was erected at the summit of Mount Moriah and its construction lasted seven years. It is believed to have been one of the most admired and sacred edifices that ever existed on earth. Undoubtedly, Solomon's Temple was, in fact, the "Perfect Ashlar" of Hiram-Abiff's Sacred Geometry!
According to hermetic lore, Hiram-Abiff was a direct descendant of Cain, which, to the more orthodox esoterically-inclined mind, solidifies the belief that, indeed, the temple was built by aid of elemental entities and demons, over which, both Solomon and Hiram-Abiff, had certain control. But, it happened that, eventually, King Solomon's wife fell in love with the Head Master Architect, whom, consequently, fell out of grace with the King, and was later assassinated. This, of course, does not imply that Solomon had anything to do with the Head Master Architect's death; However, strangely enough, the Wise King used to state, in a quasi-predictive way, that Hiram-Abiff would have many descendants, whom, eventually would finalize his work, or, in other words, that they would build other temples. And based particularly on anecdotes, such as this, many historians and scholars find themselves totally convinced that these "descendants" were none other than the "Order of Poor Fellow Soldiers of Jesus Christ & the Temple of Solomon" (a.k.a.: The Knights Templars), for these cavaliers and warrior monks considered themselves to be The Architects and Custodians of the "Secret Key/Formula". It is note-worthy, therefore, to remember that, according to the basic Post-1717 3rd Degree Legend, Hiram the Architect died at the hands of envious fellowcrafts to whom he had declined revealing certain secrets. Then, as a consequence of Hiram' sudden unexplained disappearance, King Solomon sent nine masters in search of him. Nine Masters, just like the first nine Knights Templars out on a mission to Jerusalem, searching for the "Architect and Keeper of the Secrets".
The Temple of Solomon is believed to have been completed in the 10th Century B.C., and not only became a paramount essential item for the Jewish Religion, but, for the Christian Faith and Symbolism as well. In the years 587 to 586 B.C., the temple was destructed by Nabuchodonosor. It was restored by Zerubabel at about 500 B.C., and again destroyed, in order to be re-built, once more, by Herod "The Great", not too long before the birth of Joshua Ben Joseph (a.k.a.; Jesus "The Christ"). The third temple was finally brought down by the Romans in the year 70 A.D., and, to this day, its site is currently occupied by the equally monumental mosque known as: the "Dome of the Rock", for it houses a greatly revered relic in the Muslim Faith: The Shetiyya, (a.k.a.: "The Foundation Stone of the World"), which, at one point, formed the floor of the "Holy of Holies" of Solomon's Temple.
Having amassed the Wisdom of All Ages, it is logical to assume that Solomon found the mythical "Corner Stone of Creation" and laid the same as foundation of the temple. Just like the ancient Muslims, the ancient Hebrews believed that the "Universal Stone of Foundation" marked the exact center of the cosmos, the axis or pole, and it was on this precise stone that Yahveh-Adonai created the world; from this stone light emerged for the first time; from the surface of this stone dust was scraped to create Adam; over this stone Adam offered his first sacrifice; on this stone Cain and Abel presented their fatal offering; from this stone came the waters of the deluge, and under the same they receded. They believed, in fact, that under this rock, just like subterranean waters, the forces of chaos flowed as a permanent threat of gobbleing the world. The function of the Temple was, then, to keep within bounds those forces. There have been many exegetes who tried to theoretically reconstruct the structure of the temple. Such is the case of the Normand Franciscan Nicholas De Lyre, or the Philosopher Francois Vatable. Even the very Isaac Newton, subjugated by the magic of Ezekiel's vision, bragged as a theologian, philosopher, physicist and mathematician exposing his findings in his own "Solomon's Temple". His intentions, given the symbolic character of the temple, were to know its form, in order to ascertain its significance. But not even a giant of thought like him, artificer of classical physics and celestial mechanics, could decipher the cryptic message subjacent in that mysterious architectural form. This, is, still, one of the great secrets that we, as genuine Freemasons, can and must unveil, by looking into that same fountain of wisdom that inspired Solomon. Our rituals let us glimse a millenary esoteric body of knowledge comparable only to that which configurated the temple. As an illustration of this spiritual heritage, we have the pillars of Masonry, the Jachin and Boaz columns; columns of wisdom and rigour of the kabballistic Tree of Life, which correspond to the pillars of the same name that supported the portico of the Temple of Solomon, and which Hiram-Abiff forged in bronze.
In his times, Solomon was the personification of universal wisdom, being his temple "The House of Eternal Light". According to the mystery teachings, there are three temples of Solomon: the first is "The Great House of the Universe", amidst which the Sun sits, surrounded by his twelve companion craftsmen: the twelve signs of the zodiac. Three lights, stelar, lunar and solar illuminate this cosmic temple. Accompanied by his planets, moons and asteroids, this Divine King cruises with ostentation through the avenues of space. According to this interpretation, Hiram would represent the physical active light of the Sun, while Solomon would symbolize its intellectual and spiritual splendour, invisible but omnipotent. The second temple is "The Mansion or Cathedral of the Soul", an invisible structure whose comprehension corresponds solely and exclusively to the Supreme Masonic Arcane. The mystery of this intangible edifice is confined behind the allegory of "Soma Psychon" or "Wedding Gown", as described by St. Paul (the myth-maker), the "Vestments of Glory" of the High Priest of Israel, or the "Yellow Tunic" of the Buddhist Monks. According to this last interpretation, the soul, created from an invisible igneous substance, a flaming golden metal, had been introduced in the clay molding (the physical body) by the Master Mason Hiram-Abiff, forming the "Molten Sea". Thus, the temple of the human soul is built by Three Master Masons which, personify Wisdom, Love and Duty, and only when this objective is accomplished in accordance with the "Law of Life", the Spirit of God dwells in that sacred place. The temple of the soul, thus conceived, is the true "Eternal House" and only he who is capable to erect it in this manner, is duly and truly prepared, qualified and worthy of being under Hiram's personal supervision, laboring relentlessly at perfecting his own Gnostic Temple of Solomon.