harbours—­one on the north, called the Sidonian; the other on the south, named the Egyptian.  He was perhaps also the originator of the long causeway, the lower courses of which still serve as a breakwater, by which he transformed the projecting headland between the island and the mainland into a well-sheltered harbour.  Finally, he set to work on a task like that which he had already helped Solomon to accomplish:  he built for himself a palace of cedar-wood, and restored and beautified the temples of the gods, including the ancient sanctuary of Melkarth, and that of Astarte.  In his reign the greatness of Phoenicia reached its zenith, just as that of the Hebrews culminated under David.

[Illustration:  371.jpg THE BREAKWATER OF THE EGYPTIAN HARBOUR AT TYRE]

     Drawn by Boudier, from a photograph published by the Duc de
     Luynes.

The most celebrated of Solomon’s works were to be seen at Jerusalem.  As David left it, the city was somewhat insignificant.  The water from its fountains had been amply sufficient for the wants of the little Jebusite town; it was wholly inadequate to meet the requirements of the growing-population of the capital of Judah.  Solomon made better provision for its distribution than there had been in the past, and then tapped a new source of supply some distance away, in the direction of Bethlehem; it is even said that he made the reservoirs for its storage which still bear his name.*

* A somewhat ancient tradition attributes these works to Solomon; no single fact confirms it, but the balance of probability seems to indicate that he must have taken steps to provide a water-supply for the new city.  The channels and reservoirs, of which traces are found at the present day, probably occupy the same positions as those which preceded them.

[Illustration:  372.jpg one of Solomon’s reservoirs near Jerusalem]

     Drawn by Boudier, from a photograph by M. C. Alluaud of
     Limoges.

Meanwhile, Hiram had drawn up for him plans for a fortified residence, on a scale commensurate with the thriving fortunes of his dynasty.  The main body was constructed of stone from the Judaean quarries, cut by masons from Byblos, but it was inlaid with cedar to such an extent that one wing was called “the house of the forest-of-Lebanon.”  It contained everything that was required for the comfort of an Eastern potentate—­a harem, with separate apartments for the favourites (one of which was probably decorated in the Egyptian manner for the benefit of Pharaoh’s daughter);* then there were reception-halls, to which the great men of the kingdom were admitted; storehouses, and an arsenal.  The king’s bodyguard possessed five hundred shields “of beaten gold,” which were handed over by each detachment, when the guard was relieved, to the one which took its place.  But this gorgeous edifice would not have been complete if the temple of Jahveh had not arisen side by side with the abode of the