Tyre travel guide — Tyre tourism and travel information

Tyre travel guide

about Tyre

Tyre (native Phoenician Ṣur, Akkadian Ṣurru, Hebrew צר [Ṣōr], Greek Týros, Arabic as-Sūr) is an ancient Phoenician city in Lebanon on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, about 23 miles, in a direct line, north of Acre, and 20 south of Sidon. Sidon was the oldest Phoenician city, but Tyre outlasted its elder sister and had a longer and more illustrious history. The modern city is still named Sur. The name of the city means 'Rock'.

The commerce of the whole world was gathered into the warehouses of Tyre. "Tyrian merchants were the first who ventured to navigate the Mediterranean waters; and they founded their colonies on the coasts and neighbouring islands of the Aegean Sea, in Greece, on the northern coast of Africa, at Carthage and other places, in Sicily and Corsica, in Spain at Tartessus, and even beyond the pillars of Hercules at Gadeira (Cádiz)" (Driver's Isaiah). In the time of David a friendly alliance was entered into between the Hebrews and the Tyrians, who were long ruled over by their native kings.

Tyre consisted of two distinct parts, a rocky fortress on the mainland, called "Old Tyre", and the city, built on a small, rocky island about half-a-mile distant from the shore. It was a place of great strength. It was besieged by Shalmaneser III, who was assisted by the Phoenicians of the mainland, for five years, and by Nebuchadnezzar (B.C. 586–573) for thirteen years, apparently without success. It afterwards fell under the power of Alexander the Great, after a siege of seven months in which he built a causeway from the mainland to the island, but continued to maintain much of its commercial importance till the Christian era.

Here a church was founded soon after the death of Stephen, and Paul, on his return from his third missionary journey spent a week in conversation with the disciples there.

It was captured after the First Crusade and was one of the most important cities in the Kingdom of Jerusalem, although there were also autonomous trading colonies there for the Italian merchant cities. In 1291 it was retaken by the Mameluks.

"It is noticed on monuments as early as B.C. 1500, and claiming, according to Herodotus, to have been founded about B.C. 2700. It had two ports still existing, and was of commercial importance in all ages, with colonies at Carthage (about B.C. 850) and all over the Mediterranean. It was often attacked by Egypt and Assyria, and taken by Alexander the Great after a terrible siege in B.C. 332. It is now a town of 3,000 inhabitants, with ancient tombs and a ruined cathedral. A short Phoenician text of the fourth century B.C. is the only monument yet recovered."

The city of Tyre was particularly known for the production of a rare sort of purple dye, known as Tyrian purple. This color was, in many cultures of ancient times, reserved for the use of royalty, or at least nobility.

Near cities to Tyre

• Ma alot travel guide 29 km
• Nahariyya travel guide 31 km
• Sidon travel guide 36 km
• Qiryat Shemona travel guide 36 km
• Jbail travel guide 39 km
• Akko travel guide 40 km
• Karmiel travel guide 40 km
• Zefat travel guide 45 km
• Sakhnin travel guide 45 km
• Tamra travel guide 46 km

Near webcams to Tyre

• Beirut - Jounieh Highway webcam 73 km
• Beirut webcam 75 km
• Tel Aviv - Hilton Beach webcam 140 km
• Tel Aviv - Beach webcam 140 km
• Jerusalem - Western Wall webcam 170 km
• Jerusalem - Golden Gate webcam 170 km
• Western Wall webcam 170 km
• Western Wall webcam 170 km
• Jerusalem - Olive Hill webcam 170 km
• Nicosia webcam 270 km

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Tyre travel services

cheap flights to Tyre

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Tyre real estate

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City Travel Guide comes with Tyre real estate guide with several tips on home valuation, realtors comparison, secrets on finding the "right" home, loans guide and other helpful real estate advices. Our partners also maintain Tyre property for sale and rental listings, real estate laws and reviews. We will try to help you with buying property in Lebanon, choosing real estate agents, property finders, relocation help, and information for English speakers wanting to buy real estate in Tyre.

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Tyre travel books

Tyre travel guide books

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Tyre maps and atlases

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