Tyre
Location
About
The greatest of the ancient Phoenician cities, Tyre was a major maritime trading empire built on two rocky islands off the Lebanese coast. It controlled Mediterranean trade routes and founded colonies from Carthage to Cadiz. The Hebrew Bible extensively prophesied its downfall; Alexander the Great besieged it for seven months in 332 BCE, building a causeway to the island that exists to this day as a peninsula.
Significance
Tyre was the wealthiest city in the ancient Levant and the commercial heart of Phoenician civilization. It supplied cedars of Lebanon for Solomon's Temple and produced the purple dye that became the color of royalty. The Prophets Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, and Joel all prophesied against Tyre. Jesus himself visited the region (Matthew 15:21), and Paul spent a week in Tyre on his way to Jerusalem (Acts 21:3-6).
History & Historical Arc
Tyre is mentioned in Egyptian sources from at least 1400 BCE. Under King Hiram I (970-936 BCE), a contemporary of Solomo…
Archaeological Notes
Excavations at Tyre have been complicated by the modern city of Sur built over it. The Roman hippodrome and colonnaded s…
Key Features & Structures
- Roman hippodrome
- Colonnaded Roman street
Visitor Information
UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Al-Bass site and city ruins are accessible. Open daily.
Related Figures
In the Bible
Source References
- Ezekiel 26-28
- 1 Kings 5:1-12
- Acts 21:3-6