Tire, Lebanon - all about the city with photos. Travel to Lebanon. Sidon and Tire Modern city of Tire
Turaev. Decree. cit., volume 2, p. 14
Dhorm E. Les peuples issues de japhet d "apres le chapitre X de la Genese - Syria, 1932, T13, p 36, 46
Tyloch W. Le probleme de Tarsis la lumiere de la philology et de l"exegese // Actes du deuxieme congress international d"etudes des cultures de la Mediterranee Occidental. Alger, 1978, p 50
Tsirkin Yu. B. Phoenician culture in Spain, M, GRVL, 1976, p. 9-18
Pericot L. Historia de Espana, t I, Barcelona, 1965, p 179-180
Tsirkin. Phoenician culture in Spain. Decree. cit., p. 20-24
Strabo. Decree. cit., book III, chapter 2, 9; Diodorus Siculus. Decree. cit., book V, 36, 1-3
Hennich R. Unknown lands, vol. 1, M, 1961, p. 120; Tsirkin. Phoenician culture in Spain. Decree. op. With. 18
Almagro M. A proposito de la fecha de las fibulas de Huelva - Ampurias, t 19-20, 1957-1958, p 207
Strabo. Decree. cit., book III, chapter 2, 9
Tsirkin. From Canaan to Carthage. Decree. cit., p. 153
Bunners. Ibid, p 88
Galling K. Der. Weg der Phonizier nach Tarsis // ZDPV, 1972, Bd 88, p. 7
Negbi O. Early Phoenician Presence in the Mediterranean Islands // American journal of Archaeology, 1992, V 96, p 606-609
Doumet C., Kawakabani I. Les tombes de Rachidieh: remarques sur les contacts internationaux et le commerce phenicien au VIII e siecle av. J. - C. // Actes du III congress international des etudes pheniciennes et puniques. Tunis, 1995, p. 391
Dyakonov I. M. Phrygian language. - Ancient languages of Asia Minor, M, 1980, p. 260-263
McQueen J. G. The Hittites and their contemporaries in Asia Minor, M, Nauka, 1983, p. 54
Barnett R.D. Phrygia and the Peoples of Anatolia in the Iron Age // CAH, 1975, V. II, 2, p 422
Weiss G. History of civilization. Decree. cit., T1, p. 291-292
Iliad, XI, 632
Diodorus Siculus. Decree. cit., book 13, 57, 58 and book V, 17, 3, 3
Neukirchen H. Pirates. Kyiv, ((~~Press of Ukraine~~)), 1992, p. 24-25
The Ancient Near East in Pictures (ANET). Relating to the Old Testament, by James B. Pritchard, Princetown, University Press, 1969, p. 318
Dyakonov I.M. Asia Minor and Armenia around 600 BC. e. and northern campaigns of the Babylonian kings // Bulletin ancient history, 1981, No. 2, p. 50
Weiss. Decree. cit., volume 1, p. 302
Bauer G. M. Ancient Dedan. Archaeological and epigraphic monuments // Red Sea Notes, I, M, 1994
World history in 24T. Minsk, Literature, 1996, vol. 3, p. 69, 70
Tsirkin. From Canaan to Carthage. Decree. cit., p. 145
Strabo. Decree. cit., book 15, chapter 3, 22, p. 682
Lundin A. G. State of the Mukarrib Saba, M, 1971
The World History. Decree. cit., volume 3, p. 29
Oppenheim L. Ancient Mesopotamia, M, Science, 1980, p. 120
Tsirkin. From Canaan to Carthage. Decree. cit., p. 158
By the way, why Tyr? The modern Arabic name of the city is Sur, but for some reason both in Russia and in the West it is called by the ancient Phoenician name, while in the case of Sidon the modern Arabic name Saida has taken root.
From Saida to Tire – 40 kilometers. A minibus (2 thousand liras) covers this distance in an hour, along the coastal highway with a couple of checkpoints - the second is already at the entrance to the city itself, with a propaganda poster depicting a recognizable guy with a goatee and an inscription (in English), which he translated as “Uncle Sam, don't get carried away!" :)
Tire in ancient times was one of the largest Phoenician city-states; it appeared, apparently, in the 4th millennium BC. Immigrants from Tire founded numerous colonies throughout the Mediterranean, including Carthage and Hades. At various times, the city was under the rule of Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, and the Achaemenids, but retained its autonomy. In 332 BC. After a long siege, the city was taken and destroyed by Alexander the Great. Then he was part of the powers of his successors, the Ptolemies and Seleucids. In 64 BC. became part of the Roman Empire and was the capital of the province of Syria Phoenician. In Byzantium, Tire was the center of an archbishopric. In 635, the Arabs conquered it and built a fleet here, with which they captured Cyprus. During the Crusades, Tire became a real symbol of resistance to the crusaders - they captured it only in 1124, after a couple of sieges. And they held it until 1291. In modern Lebanon, Tire has the fate of a “border city.” Now Tire is one of the strongholds of Hezbollah.
You can feel this right away - driving through the streets hung with Hezbollah flags (in the complete absence of Lebanese ones), portraits of Sheikh Nasrallah, his associates, young heroes of the fight against Zionism.
When you get off the minibus at the market, overpowering the noise of the Arab bazaar, your ears are immediately hit by the battle marches of Hezbollah, coming from the speakers at the door of the shop selling the corresponding symbols. So, if you are interested in “Hezbolic” exoticism in Lebanon, then it is not in Baalbek, but in Tire.
Due to the abundance of Hezbollah, the Lebanese army in Tire is not as visible as in Beirut, Tripoli and Saida - only one armored personnel carrier was seen. Much more often on the streets you came across white UN jeeps with blue-helmeted peacekeepers of Latin American appearance - they looked a little hunted :)
What else can you see in Tire? Remains of the ancient city, which are even included in the list World Heritage UNESCO is included - completely undeservedly, in my opinion. They are presented in a pair of archaeological zones - Al-Bass and Al-Mina (entrance - 6 thousand liras each).
Such are the archaeological excavations with various obscure columns and piles of stones with tablets.
Tire itself is located on a peninsula jutting out into the Mediterranean Sea - so they are in Tire on three sides at once.
When entering the city, the minibus first stops at the Al-Bass roundabout, where most passengers get off. Nearby is the vast Palestinian camp of Al-Bass. It is not surrounded by any wall - just semi-slum-like city blocks, decorated here and there with Palestinian flags and portraits of Arafat. Behind the camp is the archaeological zone of the same name.
Then the bus drives along a long embankment with heavy traffic - to the Al-Mina ring. This is where the local bass stand is located, combined with a branch. The local juice shop makes the best juices in all of Lebanon - orange in real Syrian large mugs cost 3 thousand lire.
From the ring, walk a little south and you will reach the archaeological zone of Al-Mina.
On the other hand, it looks like ancient quarters with mosques.
At the very end of the peninsula are the former Christian quarters with a lighthouse.
One of the most unusual prophecies in the Bible concerns fate ancient city Tyra. It is not surprising that this example is used by almost all books written in defense of Christianity. The reason for this will soon become clear to you. (592-570 BC):
The prophecies about Tire were fulfilled in stages with amazing accuracy. Taken together, bible prophecies give reason to consider history as one multifaceted process.
Tyre was the center of the slave trade. Disgusting forms of idolatry, human sacrifices, and the burning of captives in honor of idols accompanied the holidays of the Tyrians. Old Tire (Paleotir) was located on the shore, and nearby, on an island, a new Tire grew up. It was an impregnable fortress.
Book of Ezekiel 26 Chapter
3. ...Therefore, thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you. Tyre, and I will raise up many nations against you, as the sea raises its waves.
4. And they will break down the walls of Tyre and destroy its towers; and I will sweep away his dust from him and make him bare rock.
7 For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will bring Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, against Tire from the north, with horses and chariots and horsemen and an army and a great people.
8. He will slay your daughters on earth with the sword and build siege towers against you, and build a rampart against you and place shields against you...
11 And they will plunder your wealth and spoil your goods, and destroy your walls, and break down your beautiful houses, and throw your stones and your trees and your land into the water.
14 And I will make you a naked rock, you will be a place for spreading snares; you will not be built again, for I the Lord have spoken this, says the Lord GOD.
21. I will make you a terror, and you will not be found, and they will seek you, but will never find you, says the Lord God.
Predictions
1. Nebuchadnezzar will destroy the continental city of Tire (26:8).
2. Many nations will go to war against Tire (26:3).
3. The city will become a flat, bare rock (26:4).
4. In the place where the city was, the fishermen will spread their nets (26:5).
5. The remains of the city will be thrown into the water (26:12).
6. The shooting gallery will never be rebuilt (26:14).
7. He will never be found again (26:21).
The predictions we talked about earlier spoke for themselves. Such predictions may seem contradictory. Fortunately, history knows no contradictions. We can only consider the history of Tyre and compare it with the prophecies of Ezekiel.
Execution
As a secular historian noted, "Ezekiel's anger, especially in verse 27:27, shows how important ancient Tire was in the eyes of the prophet, and how varied and rich was the trade of that city."
Nebuchadnezzar
Nebuchadnezzar began the siege of Tire three years after the prophecy. The Encyclopedia Britannica notes that "after a thirteen-year siege (from 585 to 573 BC)
Nebuchadnezzar II Tire made concessions and recognized the power of Babylon. In 538 BC. together with the rest of Phenicia, this city came under the rule of Persia, where the Achaemenid dynasty ruled." When Nebuchadnezzar burst into the city, he found it almost empty. Most of the population by ship crossed to an island that lay about a kilometer from the coast, and founded a new fortified city there .
Old Tire was destroyed in 573 (prediction 1), but Tire on the island remained a powerful city for several more centuries.
Alexander the Great
“During his war with Persia,” writes the Encyclopedia Britannica, “Alexander III, having defeated Darius III at the Battle of Issus (333 BC), moved south to Egypt, calling on the Phoenician cities to open 
he has his own gates. Alexander's overall plan was to stop the use of these cities by the Persian fleet. The citizens of Tire refused to surrender, and then Alexander laid siege to the city.
Having no fleet, he destroyed the old Tire, located on the continent, and from its debris he built a dam 60 m wide across the strait that separated the old and new town. At the far end of the dam he erected towers and military engines" (Prediction 5). The ancient historian Curtius wrote that during the construction of the dam, wood from Mount Lebanon was used (for beams), and earth and stones were taken from old Tire (Prediction 5).
From the works of the Greek historian Arrian, we learn in detail about how the difficult task of conquering Tire was accomplished. This city was partly located on the continent, and partly on an island, where an exceptionally strong fortress was located. Having taken the mainland city, Nebuchadnezzar went around the island part of Tire. Alexander, as Arrian narrates, intended to take the entire city. The enterprise was difficult.
The island was entirely surrounded by strong walls that reached the very coastline. The inhabitants of Tire, like Alexander's enemies - the Persians led by Darius, controlled the sea, but this Greek commander decided to build an artificial spit that would reach the fortress. At first the work progressed well, but as the dam was built, the depth of the sea grew, and the inhabitants of Tire made increasingly frequent forays against the attackers.
Because of their high walls, they could cause significant harm to the attackers, especially if we remember that the latter were prepared for work rather than war, and did not wear armor, but ordinary work clothes. The forays of the inhabitants of Tire onto the dam under construction seriously slowed down its construction. To counteract the besieged, Alexander built two watchtowers with soldiers on the dam.
After this, the inhabitants of Tire launched a very successful raid on the dam.
They set fire to the watchtowers with the help of special ships and landed numerous troops, expelling the Greeks from the dam, causing as much damage as they could. Arrian further writes about naval battles. Realizing that he needed ships, Alexander demanded them from the conquered cities and regions. His fleet was thus created; about 80 ships were supplied by Sidon, Arad and Byblos, 10 by Rhodes, 3 by Soli and Mallos, 10 by Lycia, one big ship- Macedonia, and 120 - Cyprus (Prediction2).
With such a powerful fleet, it was only a matter of time before Alexander conquered Tire using an earthen causeway. Despite interference from Darius, Alexander's enemy, the dam was eventually built, the walls of the city were destroyed and the city itself was destroyed. “A wide dam,” writes Philip Myers, “connecting the shore with
island, has survived to this day. When the city was taken after a seven-month siege, eight thousand inhabitants were killed and thirty thousand were sold into slavery."
It is no wonder that the inhabitants of Tire aroused such hatred among the Greeks.
The city's defenders used all available methods - including not the most plausible ones. “The defense of Tire and its complete fall to the Greek conquerors is a very sad event,” says John C. Beck. Here is an interesting quote from a history textbook written by secular scholar Philip Myers: “Alexander the Great reduced Tire to ruins (332 BC).
The city recovered to a certain extent from this blow, but never again occupied the same place in the world as before. Most of the place where this once great city lay now looks like a bare rock (Prediction 3) - a place where the fishermen, still numerous in those parts, spread their nets to dry" (Prediction 4). John Beck writes about the fall of Tire from a historical perspective: “The history of Tire did not stop after Alexander conquered it. It was rebuilt again and besieged again until, finally, sixteen centuries later, Tire was completely and irrevocably destroyed."
Antigonus
“Returning from the victorious wars in Babylonia,” writes Nina Jidejian, “Antigone easily conquered the Phoenician cities until he encountered stubborn resistance from Tire. Eighteen years have passed since the conquest of this city by Alexander, and it managed to rapidly revive... To conquer Tire, Antigonus it took a fifteen-month siege." Simple arithmetic shows that these events took place in 314 BC. According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, King Ptolemy II (Philadelphus) reigned from 285 to 247 B.C. Jidejian continues:
"When Ptolemy Philadelphus built the Berenicean harbor on the Red Sea, paved a road with villages and wells to Koptos and re-opened the canal connecting the Pelusian branch of the Nile with the Gulf of Suez. Tire was dealt a fatal blow. Ships belonging to Tire used to sail from the Red Sea and Indian Ocean through the port of Elote to Rhinocolura in Phenicia via Petra, and then to various ports in the Mediterranean. Now the sailors sailed through the canal to Alexandria, where all the wealth that in the old days came to Tyre was sent."
The researcher cites the story of the Persian traveler Nasir-i-Khusraw, who visited Tire in 1047 AD. “They built their city on a rock, in the sea, in such a way that the city government is located on the continent, on an area about a hundred meters long, while the rest rises directly from the water.
The walls are made of cut stone, the seams are layered with resin so that water does not penetrate through them. The area of the city reaches a thousand square arshins, its caravanserais are built five to six floors, towering above each other. The city has many fountains, its markets are clean, and its wealth is great. This city of Tire is generally famous among the Syrian ports for its wealth and power. Mashhad, a temple dedicated to the martyrs, was erected at the city gates, where you can see a great variety of carpets, hanging decorations, lamps and lamps of gold and silver. The city itself stands on a hill. Water comes into it from the mountain, through an aqueduct that reaches the city gates."
Muslims
Since the city was once taken by Muslims, the Crusaders also fought for it, eventually capturing the island. During the Crusades, it served as an important stronghold, but was still recaptured by the Muslims. This is how the historian Joseph Michaud describes it: “Having taken and destroyed Ptolemais, the Sultan sent one of his emirs with a detachment of troops to conquer Tire, and the city, gripped by horror, opened its gates without resistance... These cities, which did not give any help to Ptolemais in a decisive battle, they believed that they were protected by a truce. But their population was killed, scattered, sold into slavery: the rage of the Muslims spread even to the stones of these cities, and it seemed that they
seek to destroy the very land on which Christians walked. Their houses, temples, monuments, their households and everything that makes up the pride of Christians - all this was destroyed along with the inhabitants with the help of fire and sword" (Prediction 6).
"In 690 (1291) the city was again taken by the Muslims at the same time as Akra and others seaside cities. Destroyed, it lies in ruins to this day,” wrote the Arab historian Abulfiela in 1321.
Lestrange quotes another Arab historian, Ibn Batuta, who visited the ruins of Tire in 1355. “The power of this city, which was washed on three sides by the sea, has become a proverb. Nowadays, only ruins remain of the ancient walls and port, and the chain blocking the mouth of the port has been preserved from the old days” (Prediction 6).
Pliny the Elder, whom we quote from Nina Jidejian, sums it up as follows: “Tire... once famous as the mother of the cities of Leptis, Utica, Carthage, the great rival of Rome in the struggle for world domination, as well as Cadiz, founded outside the inhabited world; but all the wealth and glory of Tire now consists of lobsters and purple dye obtained from shells" (Prediction 7).
Current situation of Tyre
Ina Jidejian describes today's Tire (now Sur): "This port is still in use today. Small fishing boats anchor here. In the foundation former city granite columns from Roman times are visible, which were used to strengthen the walls built by the Crusaders. The port has become a fishing harbor and a place where fishermen dry their nets."
“As the prophet predicted, Tire was supposed to turn into a place for drying fishing nets,” writes another researcher. “Today’s Sur is a town built on the coast at some distance from the ancient one. On the site of old Tire now stands a fishing village, which is not a refutation , but the final fulfillment of the prophecy.
Tyre, king of the seas, the craft and commercial center of the world for centuries, perished, never to be reborn. Fishermen spreading their nets on the rocks that once served as the foundation of an ancient city, the last link in the chain of Ezekiel’s prophecies made twenty-five centuries ago" (Prediction 4). Nina Jidejian in her wonderful book writes in conclusion that "the stones of Tyre can be found in in such remote places as Acre and Beirut. And yet the evidence of its great past is very numerous.
Recent archaeological excavations have revealed successive layers of this proud Phoenician port... The great ancient city of Tyre rests beneath layers of accumulated ruins. Above ground, only the remains of an aqueduct, several columns scattered throughout the territory, and the ruins of a Christian chapel were found... Looking into the water, you can see massive granite columns and stone blocks scattered along the seabed. Until recently there were almost no ruins of Tyre above ground level."
Specific fulfillment of prophecies
We have outlined the history of the ancient city of Tire. Let's see how it compares with Ezekiel's specific predictions.
1. Nebuchadnezzar did destroy the old (continental) city of Tire.
2. Many nations went to war against Tyre. “The peculiarity of the waves is that they come one after another, exerting a destructive effect through successive continuous impacts,” notes John Beck. “The prophecies of Ezekiel should therefore be understood as predicting a series of conquests over a long period of time.
In the light of this interpretation, the content of Art. 4-6. First of all, “they will break down the walls of Tire and destroy its towers” (conquest by Nebuchadnezzar). Then “I will sweep away his dust from him and make him a bare rock” (siege by Alexander the Great). And finally, “he will be a plunder for the nations” (the story following the siege of Alexander the Great).”
3. Alexander the Great, building his dam for the siege of the island fortress, destroyed the old Tyre, turning it into a “bare rock”.
4. The spreading of fishing nets on the site of old Tire has been repeatedly noted by researchers, including secular scholars and historians. “Pale turquoise fishing nets were drying on the shore...” Nina Nelson writes about a trip to Tire. "It is unlikely that even one stone lies in its place ancient Tire, wrote Hans-Wolf Rakl, “as the prophet predicted. The shooting gallery has become a place where fishermen dry their nets."
5. While building his dam, Alexander threw into the water what was left of the city. "Ezekiel's prophecy that the 'stones, trees, and earth' of Tyre would be 'thrown into the water,'" writes Joseph Free, "was exactly fulfilled when Alexander the Great's sappers built a siege dam using the rubble of ancient Tire on the mainland as material." , and laying them in water." Nina Nelson, in her Guide to Lebanon, notes that "the ruins of ancient Tire are unique because they lie in the heart of the sea."
6. The city of Tire will never be rebuilt. “You will not be built again,” the prophet predicted. In his book "Fundamentals of the Christian Faith," Floyd Hamilton emphasizes that other cities were rebuilt more than once after conquest. “Jerusalem was destroyed more than once, but each time it rose from the ruins. There was nothing to indicate that the city of Tire would not be restored.
And yet, twenty-five centuries ago, the Jewish prophet, in his Babylonian exile, looked into the future at the behest of the Lord and inscribed the words “and you will not be rebuilt again.” The voice of God sounded, and ancient Tyre remains to this day a bare rock abandoned by man! Anyone who wants to know the location of the former city will be pointed to a stretch of coastline where not a single section of ruins remains.
The city disappeared from the face of the earth and was never rebuilt." On the site of ancient Tire is Reseline, a bountiful spring fresh water, undoubtedly at one time feeding the ancient city. This spring is still there and is just as abundant, but its waters flow into the sea. According to experts, the fresh water flow reaches about 37 million liters per day. This amount is enough to supply even a large modern city - and yet Tire was never rebuilt, in other words, Ezekiel's prophecy has not been broken for more than 2500 years.
7. The city will never be found again. Most commentators agree that the real location of the destroyed Tyre can no longer be established. Probably, these words can be more accurately interpreted in the sense that people will not be looking for the place where Tire was located, but for the return of the city to its former wealth and glory.
It is difficult to believe that it is impossible to find the ruins of a city that once occupied the whole island and was surrounded by walls that went down to the water. Some people still do not accept the fulfillment of the prophecy that Tire will never be rebuilt, because in its place there is a fishing village. The existence of the village cannot be denied, but the prophecy itself should not be denied on this basis.
Indeed, if we remember it in its entirety, we will find that Tire should turn into a place for spreading fishing nets, which is exactly what happened. To spread the nets, the owners of these nets are needed, that is, fishermen. They, in turn, need to live somewhere, and if they spread their nets on the site of the ancient city, according to the prophecy, then they are unlikely to build their village 10 kilometers from it - they will live where their nets are located.
When Tire was destroyed in 1291, it perished and was never rebuilt. The settlement that arose in its place resembled ancient Tire no more than, say, the city of Seattle or Vladivostok.
“I visited Sur on a summer day,” recalls Nina Nelson. “The town was sleepy, calm reigned over the harbor. Pale turquoise fishing nets were drying on the shore.”
Hans-Wolf Rackl in “Underwater Archaeology” notes that “it is unlikely that even a single stone of ancient Tire lies in its place... The settlers who appeared after the destruction of the city used its ruins to build their own huts. As the prophet predicted, Tire became to a place for drying fishing nets."
In his book Travels in Lebanon, Philip Ward admits that "Since then (1261) agriculture and fishing, two occupations of peaceful and modest people, first turned Tire into a provincial corner."
In his statistical analysis, Peter Stoner uses seven of Ezekiel's predictions, six of which are the same as those given in this chapter (1-6). “If Ezekiel’s predictions at one time were made on the basis of human wisdom,” the researcher writes, “then the probability of the fulfillment of all seven prophecies would be one chance in 75 million. Nevertheless, they all came true down to the smallest detail.”
The ancient city of Thira is located on the right bank of the Dniester estuary, which was called Tiras. This is the territory of the modern city of Belgorod-Dnestrovsky.
Story
The city was founded in the 6th century BC. For the first time, settlers came here from Miletus. In the 6th-3rd centuries BC there were times of greatest prosperity for the territory's economy. Agriculture and viticulture, fishing, crafts and trade developed. All relations were mainly with the population of Transnistria. The city even minted its own coin.
In the 2nd century BC, Tire was ruled by local kings, whose names appear on the coins. In the middle of the 1st century BC the city was destroyed by the Getae.
In 56 BC, during the reign of Nero, the ancient city of Tire was restored by the Romans. Further, being part of the province of Moesia Inferior, it was renamed Alba Iulia, regaining its importance. Autonomous coinage in the city began during the reign of Emperor Domitian in 81 AD and continued until the end of the reign of Emperor Alexander Severus (235 AD. The coins of Tire at that time were copper, they depicted members of the imperial house of the Roman Empire. Then in In the ancient city there was a detachment of Roman legionnaires.
In the second half of the 3rd century the city suffered an invasion by the Goths. Archaeological finds showed that the Romans remained in these lands until the end of the 4th century. Later, the city was renamed by the Byzantines and restored after the barbarian invasions. The new name of the ancient city of Tyre became Maurokastron, which translated from Greek means “Black Fortress”.
At different times, the city was governed by five archons, a king, a senate, and a people's assembly. The types of coins suggest trade in wine, wheat and fish. Some inscriptions are also related to trade.
Studying
Archaeological excavations of the area have been carried out since the beginning of the 20th century. The surviving remains and artifacts are quite scarce, since the cultural layers of the Greek and Roman periods were completely destroyed or inaccessible; in the Vedas, a medieval fortress was built on the territory, which different times was called Maurocastro, Cetatea Alba (" White City"), Akkerman ("White Fortress"). Today it is Belgorod-Dnestrovsky.
The city is divided into two parts along its entire length. The separator is the “Sacred Road”. Here tourists will see blocks of houses of different eras, sanctuaries, Agora, theaters, the home of Ptolemy the Benefactor, graves of the archaic and classical eras, remains of buildings of the early Christian period, hot springs. The names of the god Apollo, male and youthful names are carved on the rocks.
The ancient city of Thira is one of the most interesting attractions in Greece. It was discovered in 1895 by German archaeologists, and... The local ruins date back to the 9th century BC.
Many of the ruins here date back to the Hellenistic era, but remains of Byzantine and Roman architecture have also been found.
Shooting gallery(rock) - the name of the ancient famous Phoenician city, which is repeatedly indicated in the Holy. Scripture and classical authors (). According to Josephus, it was founded 240 years before the Temple of Solomon. At the division of the Promised Land, Tire was on the border of the tribe of Asher, but it was owned by its original inhabitants and was long ruled by its own kings. The names of some of them are indicated in the Holy Scriptures. Scriptures (; ). During the reign of David and Solomon, a particularly friendly alliance existed between the Tyrians and the Jews, and, undoubtedly, it greatly favored the trade relations of the Jews, since the Tyrians had long been famous for their maritime trade.
The luxury, wickedness and idolatry of the Tyrians were repeatedly denounced with particular force by the prophets, who predicted for this the final destruction of Tyre (, , , etc.). Some of these biblical predictions, and mainly those found in the book. Ave. Ezekiel, are distinguished by their particular strength, clarity and completeness. They indicate the power of Tire, its varied and enormous trade, its wealth, luxury, etc.
Tire was not as ancient as Sidon, but it became higher than it. It consisted of two separate parts: one of them was located on a rock or small island, close to the coast, and the other on the mainland; but which of them is older is a moot point. The part of Tire, located on the mainland, was called Pale Tire, or old Tire, it extended along the coast for 7 miles, and the island Tire had 22 stadia in circumference; however, according to most interpreters, the part of Tyre, located on the mainland, is older than the first. Joshua already mentions it as fortified city(). There were two harbors near the city, one on the northern part, called Sidonskaya, and the other in the south - Egyptian. A huge canal running through the entire city connected both of these harbors.
Tire is mentioned several times in the Bible during the reigns of David and Solomon, as indicated above. Hiram, king of Tyre, entered into an alliance with David and Solomon and supplied them with cedar trees, carpenters and masons to build a temple and palace in the Jewish capital. With the help of Hiram, Solomon established a fleet at the end of the Elanite Gulf of the Red Sea, not far from Elath, in the Edomite city of Ezion-geber, and together with the Tyrian sailors, the Jews went to Ophir, taking out from there a lot of gold, silver, ivory precious stones, etc. After a few time after the death of Solomon, the daughter of the Tyrian c. Ethbaalah, Jezebel, was given in marriage to an Israeli priest. Ahava.
St. Ezekiel () clearly writes about trade relations between the Tyrians and the Israelis. But along with the rise of the Tyrians, with the increase in their wealth and glory, their vices and iniquities increased and multiplied. In his arrogance and immense pride, Tyr spoke in his heart: I am god, and I sit on the seat of God in the heart of the seas(). The names alone of Jezebel and her daughter Athaliah, Tyrians by origin, already sufficiently testify to the pitiful state in which the morality of the Tyrians was under the kings of Israel. In general, about the deep moral decline of Tire, St. Ezekiel writes the following: You are the seal of perfection, the fullness of wisdom and eternal beauty. You were in Eden, in the garden of God; your garments were adorned with all kinds of precious stones; you were an anointed cherub; you were perfect in your ways. But because of the vastness of your trade, your inner being is filled with untruth. By the multitude of your iniquities in your unrighteous trade, you have defiled your sanctuaries... Therefore, behold, I will rise up against you, Tire, says the Lord, many nations, and they will break down the walls of Tyre, and destroy its towers; and I will sweep away his dust from him, and make him bare rock. It will be a place for spreading nets in the middle of the sea, and it will be for the nations to plunder.(; ). All this came true in due time.
When Tire settled many colonies in different places and founded Carthage, when his dominion at sea was secure, he for the first time in his own land came into conflict with one strong Asian conqueror, Shalmaneser, c. Assyrian, and then with Nebuchadnezzar, c. Babylonian, who, having besieged it, kept it under siege, according to some, for thirteen years, and, finally, with the famous king of Macedon, Alexander, from whom he again suffered a terrible siege. Although he, with enormous effort and expense, built a huge earthen dam from Tire on the mainland to Tire on the island, despite this, the city was taken by storm after a seven-month defense. The capture of the city was accompanied by dire consequences; he was burned; 10,000 of its population were put to death and 40,000 were sold into slavery. The dam, built by Alexander the Great, remained in the form of ruins to this day, as an unforgettable monument of ancient Tire, and through it the island became a peninsula. Subject for some time to the power of the Seleucids, Tire subsequently fell under the rule of the Romans; but he could never regain his former splendor and greatness.
In the Middle Ages, Tire was repeatedly besieged by the Crusaders, and then for some time it was ruled by the Venetian Republic. Tyre, which existed on the mainland in the days of the prophets in all its grandeur and wealth, has now completely disappeared, and of it, with the exception of the fragments of a destroyed water supply system, not the slightest trace has survived; the stones and logs from which it was built, and even its very ashes and debris lie at the bottom of the sea, where the formidable conqueror threw them. Fishermen of a new village located on ancient island, entitled Sur or Sor, literally, in accordance with the prophecy, they spread their nets here on the sand that covers the surface of the dam. It has up to 3,000 inhabitants, and, according to the prophecy of Ezekiel, it now stands poor, empty, secluded on an island, in the middle of the vast sea, as the only representative of the ancient, once glorious, rich and arrogant Tire.
Yes, we repeat again, prophetic indications of Tire in the biblical books are numerous and varied: for example, in the book. Ave. Ezekiel () before our eyes passes a lively panorama in sequential order with the ships and trade of Tire, with its trading markets and the stock exchanges, with its various imports and exports, with its various populations from many and distant countries; finally, with its enormous wealth, luxury and splendor. He exported from Hebron Senairian cypresses to build his platforms and Lebanese cedars to build masts on his ships. He made his oars from the oak trees of Bashan. From Greece, or Greek Islands, ivory was delivered to him to decorate his ships; from Egypt - patterned fabrics for sails and flags; blue and purple fabrics - from Polonaise for bedspreads. Rowers flocked to it from Sidon and Arabia; but Tire also had his own experts in maritime affairs, and he appointed them as helmsmen. Rich Tarshish paid him for his goods in silver, iron, lead and tin. From Greece and the countries bordering Pontus, he received slaves, female slaves and copper utensils, and horses, combat horses and hinnies from Armenia. From the shores Persian Gulf and the islands lying on it, ivory and ebony were delivered to Tire. From Syria he received purple fabrics, fine linen, corals and rubies; from Judah and the land of Israel - wheat, oil, honey and balm; from Damascus - Helbon wine and white wool; from Stony Arabia and from the princes of Kedar - lambs, rams and kids; from Sava and Rayema - all the best incense; from India - gold and precious stones; from Mesopotamia, Haran, and Babylonia, the Assyrians brought all the items of the most refined luxury to Tire. But enough.
For us, the children of the new Israel, more interesting are the references to this once glorious city found in the New Testament. The Lord Jesus Christ found the inhabitants of Tyre, despite all their moral ailments, more capable of perceiving the truths of salvation than some of the Jews were. If, He says, the powers that were manifested in you had been manifested in Tire and Sidon, that is, in the cities of Judah, Chorazin and Bethsaida, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I'm telling you, the Savior added to the inhabitants of the mentioned cities, that it will be more tolerable for Tire and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you( ).
From the book Acts of St. the apostles, it is clear that the Christian Church was formed early in Tire. Ap. Paul, returning to Jerusalem after his third journey, stopped on his way in Tire, found disciples here, that is, believers, and stayed with them for seven days. His departure from Tire, according to the priest. writer of the book of Acts of St. the apostles, it was like the departure of the father of the family: all the believers with their wives and children accompanied him out of the city and on the shore, on bended knees, they prayed, asking the apostle from the Lord for a happy journey ().
In 196 AD there was an episcopal see in Tire; in the same city, in the 3rd century, the famous one ended his life.
Such is the fate of Tire and such are the pitiful traces of its former greatness and glory!