The Bible
1 Kings 7
Solomon builds himself a house—Hiram of Tyre makes the two pillars, the molten sea, the ten bases, the ten lavers, and all the vessels for the temple—The molten sea (baptismal font) rests on the backs of twelve oxen.
1But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.
4And there were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks.
11And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars.
13¶ And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre.
22And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished.
37After this manner he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, and one size.
43And the ten bases, and ten lavers on the bases;
44And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea;
46In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan.