Solomon
The ancient king who rules Jerusalem with a powerful Ring and commands seventeen High Magicians.
Solomon is the biblical King of Israel, reigning from approximately 970 to 931 BC, who rules with the use of a mighty Ring. In the novel, he is a powerful magician who commands seventeen High Magicians and uses the Ring to maintain his authority. He proposes to the Queen of Sheba and is refused, and later sends Khaba the Cruel to punish the djinni Bartimaeus for murdering one of his magicians, Ezekiel. Solomon is depicted as a ruler who can be amused by Bartimaeus's groveling, sparing the djinni's life and instead sending him to hunt bandits. He is also shown to be unaware of a ransom demand sent in his name to Sheba, which causes Asmira to doubt her mission.
Quick Facts
- Author
- Jonathan Stroud
- Language
- English
- Series
- Bartimaeus Sequence
- Release number
- 4
- Genre
- Children's, Fantasy novel
- Publisher
- Doubleday
- Released
- 14 October 2010
- Format
- Print (paperback & hardback)
Lore & Background
Solomon is the King of Israel who rules from Jerusalem during the biblical period, around 950 BC. He commands seventeen High Magicians and uses the Ring of Solomon to enforce his will. When the djinni Bartimaeus murders the magician Ezekiel, Solomon is insulted that a mere djinni is the perpetrator and commands Khaba the Cruel to summon Bartimaeus back into service and punish him. Solomon also proposes to the Queen of Sheba, Balkis, and is refused. Later, he makes an unexpected appearance at the construction site of his Temple on the Temple Mount, where he catches Bartimaeus in the form of a pygmy hippopotamus in a skirt. Amused by Bartimaeus's groveling, Solomon spares his life and sends him and Khaba to hunt local bandits. When Asmira attempts to assassinate him, Solomon reveals that he never sent any ransom demand to Sheba, clearing up the misunderstanding. After Khaba's betrayal, Solomon imprisons Khaba and pardons both Asmira and Bartimaeus. He then summons Queen Balkis to Jerusalem and offers Asmira a position in his service.
Reader's Guide
Solomon is the King of Israel who rules from Jerusalem during the biblical period, around 950 BC. He commands seventeen High Magicians and uses the Ring of Solomon to maintain his authority. His role in the story is that of a powerful ruler who is both feared and respected. He is shown to be capable of mercy, as when he spares Bartimaeus's life after being amused by his groveling. He is also shown to be unaware of the ransom demand sent in his name to Sheba, which drives the plot. Solomon's defining moment is his confrontation with Asmira, where he reveals the truth about the ransom demand and later offers her a position in his service. His legacy is the use of the Ring to control spirits and maintain his rule over Israel.
More in Characters & Spirits
Elsewhere in Bartimaeus
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