Definition
Tyre is an ancient Phoenician port city which, in myth, is known as the birthplace of Europa (who gave Europe its name) and Dido (who gave aid to, and fell in love with, Aeneas of Troy). The name means 'rock' and the city consisted of two parts, the main trade centre on an island, and 'old Tyre', about a half-mile opposite on the mainland.
In addition to Tyre being a vital trade port, the Tyrians were known as workers in dye from the shells of the Murex shellfish. This purple dye was highly valued and held royal connotations in the ancient world. It also gave the Phoenicians their name - Phoenicians means "purple people". The city-state was the most powerful in all of Phoenicia along with the city-state of Sidon.
Tyre was in its golden age around the 10th century BCE and, in the 8th, was colonizing other sites in the area and enjoying great wealth and prosperity. Their success attracted the attention of King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon who lay siege to the city for thirteen years in the 6th century without breaking their defenses. During this siege most of the inhabitants of the mainland city abandoned it for the relative safety of the island city.
In 332 BCE Alexander the Great besieged Tyre and, dismantling much of the old mainland city, as well as using fallen debris, rock and felled trees, filled in the sea between the mainland and the island to create a land bridge for his war machines. This caused heavy sedimentation to occur and permanently linked the island to the mainland in future ages. After a siege of seven months, Alexander used his man-made causeway to batter down the walls of Tyre and take the city. Tyre’s 30,000 inhabitants were massacred or sold into slavery and the city was destroyed by Alexander in his rage at their having defied him for so long.
The Romans took the ruined city as a colony in 64 BCE, rebuilt it, and constructed aqueducts and monuments and, of course, roads, which still exist today.
In addition to Tyre being a vital trade port, the Tyrians were known as workers in dye from the shells of the Murex shellfish. This purple dye was highly valued and held royal connotations in the ancient world. It also gave the Phoenicians their name - Phoenicians means "purple people". The city-state was the most powerful in all of Phoenicia along with the city-state of Sidon.
Tyre was in its golden age around the 10th century BCE and, in the 8th, was colonizing other sites in the area and enjoying great wealth and prosperity. Their success attracted the attention of King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon who lay siege to the city for thirteen years in the 6th century without breaking their defenses. During this siege most of the inhabitants of the mainland city abandoned it for the relative safety of the island city.
In 332 BCE Alexander the Great besieged Tyre and, dismantling much of the old mainland city, as well as using fallen debris, rock and felled trees, filled in the sea between the mainland and the island to create a land bridge for his war machines. This caused heavy sedimentation to occur and permanently linked the island to the mainland in future ages. After a siege of seven months, Alexander used his man-made causeway to batter down the walls of Tyre and take the city. Tyre’s 30,000 inhabitants were massacred or sold into slavery and the city was destroyed by Alexander in his rage at their having defied him for so long.
The Romans took the ruined city as a colony in 64 BCE, rebuilt it, and constructed aqueducts and monuments and, of course, roads, which still exist today.
Articles
-
After defeating Darius III at the battle of Issus in November 333 BC, Alexander marched his army (about 35,000-40,000 strong) into Phoenicia, where he received the capitulation...
[Continue Reading...]
Illustrations
Tyre Books
-
Westminster John Knox Press (01 October 2006)Price: $26.37 -
Paradigma Ltd (01 October 2009)Price: $16.49 -
New Leaf Publishing Group/Master Books (20 February 2009)Price: $13.59 -
LeClue 22 [Kindle] (08 May 2008)Currently unavailable -
Cambridge University Press (15 October 2001)Price: $38.31
Comments
Please log in or register to post comments. Sadly this is necessary due to comment spam.