Tyre

Although the earliest origins of Tyre are unknown, the testimonies of ancient historians and some archaeological evidence suggest it goes back to the start of the 3rd millennium BC. Originally a mainland settlement with an island city a short distance offshore, it came of age in the 10th century BC when King Hiram expanded the mainland and built two ports and a temple to honor Melkart, the city's god. Its flourishing maritime trade, Mediterranean colonies, its purple dye and glass industries made Tyre very powerful and wealthy. But the city's wealth attracted enemies. In the 6th century BC the Tyrians successfully defied Nebuchadnezzar for 13 years. Alexander The Great laid siege to it for 7 years, finally overwhelming the island city by constructing a great causeway from the shore to the island.

In their day the Romans built a magnificent city at Tyre. The remains of its Roman streets, arcades and public buildings, including (reputeldly) the largest hippodromes in the Roman Empire, are Tyre's major attractions. Occupied by the Muslim Arabs in 636, then captured in 1124 by the Crusaders, Tyre was an important fortified town of the kingdom of Jerusalem. In 1291 the Mamlukes took the city; during the 400 year Ottoman period (beginning 1516) it remained a quiet town. Now a sleepy port town, it was incorporated into the nation of Lebanon at the end of World War I. It is a charming place in which to while away vacation time.

What remains of Tyre, in addition to the archeological treasures described below, is a fishing town of approximately 250,000, with an old city filled with the characteristic Middle East bazaars or souks (located on the landfill connecting the original island to the mainland) and a new city, located inland. Tyre has a colorful souk (market) well worth exploring. Unfortunately, it was closed on our visit, due to the religious holiday. Near the market you'll see a busy fisherman's port, in Phoenician times referred to as the "Sidonian port" because it faced north towards Sidon. Along the port with the sea on your right is the city's Christian Quarter, a picturesque area of narrow streets, traditional architecture, and the Seat of the Maronite Bishop of Tyre and the Holy Land.

The Archeology of Tyre

Tyre is home to two main archeological sites, Al-Mina (next to the sea) and Al-Bass, about a 30 minute walk inland. In 1979 UNESCO designated it a World Heritage Site. We have created a virtual tour of these ruins

A Virtual Tour of Tyre's Archeological Treasures

Al Mina: Roman ColonnadeSnap Content

There is also a version of this tour designed specifically for VR headsets such as Google Cardboard, and it works with both iPhone and Android devices. It may be accessed by scanning on the QR code to the left. If you are viewing this on a mobile phone, you may access the VR tour by following this link.

For iOS devices: scan QR code with your device's camera app, tap on the prompt to open Safari. Select "Allow Device Motion" and the next prompt, "Allow Access to Motion Orientation." Turn the device to landscape mode and a split screen will appear. When the screen turns white, swipe up for fullscreen mode, and place in headset. Here is a video of how to do this--it is simpler than it sounds! [The video opens in a new window--close when done to return to this page]

For Android devices: Open the camera app and use the built-in scanner to scan the QR code above. Confirm that you want to open the website, and wait for it to load--it should load in stereo view. Select the fullscreen ("X" option) from the menu at the bottom. Turn the device to landscape mode and you are ready to go. Here is a video of how to do this--it is simpler than it sounds! [The video opens in a new window--close when done to return to this page]