Ophir

Ophir is a port or region mentioned in the Bible that was famous for its wealth. King Solomon is supposed to have received a cargo of gold, silver, sandalwood, precious stones, ivory, apes and peacocks from Ophir, every three years.

Biblical scholars, archeologists and various other people have tried to determine the exact location of Ophir. Most modern scholars assume that it must have been somewhere in southwest Arabia in the region of modern Yemen. This is also the assumed location of Sheba. Other possibility is the African shore of the Red Sea.

Other assumptions vary as widely as theoretical locations of Atlantis. Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) mentions the connection to "Sofir", Coptic name for India and possible connection to Abhira, at the mouth of the Indus. Josephus connected it with the Golden Chersonese, i.e. the Malay peninsula[?].

Proponents of pre-Columbian connections between Eurasia and Americas have also made their own suggestions including places like a modern-day Peru.

Biblical references to Ophir: 1 Kings 9:28; 10:11; 22:48; 1 Chronicles 29:4; 2 Chronicles 8:18; Job 22:24; 28:16; Psalms 45:9; Isaiah 13:12.