Why were blacksmiths honoured in the ancient world?

People have attached great importance to iron since ancient times. Blacksmiths, who work with iron, were honoured since it was they who made the weapons and tools that were essential for survival. There is a beautiful story to illustrate this point.

Thousands of years ago, the wise king Soloman built a beautiful temple in Jerusalem. At a feast held to celebrate its completion, he asked the workmen a question. Whose contribution to the creation of the temple was the greatest? The mason, the carpenter and the digger all claimed that theirs had been the most important contribution. It was then that the king pointed out, that though their work was important, the greatest contribution was made by the blacksmith who made their tools, for without their tools they could not work, and without the blacksmith there would be no tools!