Ophir

Ophir (Hebrew אוֹפִיר, standard Hebrew Ophir, Tiberian Hebrew Ôp̄îr) is a port or region mentioned in the Bible that was famous for its wealth. It is believed that King Solomon received a shipment of gold, silver, sandalwood, precious stones (OFI), ivory, monkeys and peacocks from Ophir every three years. Hence, OFI is a precious uncut gem.

Bible scholars, archaeologists, and many other scholars have attempted to determine the exact location of Ophir. Many modern scholars maintain that it could have been in southwestern Arabia, in the region of modern-day Yemen. This is also the possible location of Saba. Another possibility is the African coast of the Red Sea, since the name may be derived from the Afar ethnic group of Ethiopia or Egypt.

Other possible locations vary greatly. Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) mentions the connection to "Sofir", the Coptic name for India, and also a possible connection to Abhira, at the mouth of the Indus River. Flavius Josephus connected it with Cophen, an Indian river, sometimes associated with a part of Afghanistan.

Some scholars, who propose connections between Eurasia and America before the arrival of Columbus, have also made their own hypotheses, including places like Peru. In 1568, Álvaro Mendaña arrived at the Solomon Islands, he called them that because he thought he had reached Ophir. Another reference is found in the Gazophilatium regium Perubicum (1647) by Gaspar de Escalona Agüero, especially on its cover, which makes Peru and the mines of Potosí a new Ophir and thus compares Solomon to King Philip IV.

There are also studies that indicate that Ophir was one of the 13 sons of Joktan, son of Eber, son of Sala, son of Keinan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah.