Tyre (In Classical Writers Tyrus; In The Hebrew Scriptures Tzor, Rock), the wealthiest and most powerful city of Phoenicia, founded by the Sidonians, in a naturally strong position on the coast of the Mediterranean, 23 m. S. of Sidon. In later times it extended over a small adjacent island, the new part gradually becoming the more important, and the old receiving the name of Palaetyrus or Old Tyre, now called Ras el-Ain. The latter is designated in the historical books of the Old Testament as the "stronghold " or "fortress" (mibtzar) Tzor, while, no doubt in allusion to its insular part, the city is called by Isaiah the "stronghold of the sea," and described by Ezekiel, in his glowing picture of its wealth, splendor, and maritime power, as situated "in the heart of the seas." On its site now stands a poor village called Sur. The island on which the town stood was originally severed from another small island bearing the temple of Melkart; but when the latter was rebuilt by Hiram, the little arm of the sea between the two islands was filled up, and by means of embankments toward the south the extent of the island was more than doubled. On the land thus obtained was built a new quarter of the city, which the Greeks called Eurychoron. Tyre was protected on all sides by dikes, and surrounded by fortified enclosures.

Hiram built a palace in this insular town, which constantly grew in importance, while Palastyrus was neglected and became comparatively insignificant. Both parts withstood a long siege by the Assyrians (under Shalmaneser according to Josephus, but more probably under Sargon), but only that built on the island is believed to have successfully resisted a longer one by Nebuchadnezzar; while Alexander the Great, by the construction of a mole from the mainland to the island, succeeded in reducing the whole of Tyre. This mole, gradually enlarged and strengthened by ruins and alluvial deposits, has since permanently connected the two sites of the ancient city, converting the island into a promontory. Even the ruins of the "daughter of Sidon" and mother of Carthage have mostly been covered by the sea. The burial places still testify to the existence of the ancient city. Most of the tombs are rock-cut and subterranean. They contain generally more than one chamber, in the walls of which are recesses holding embalmed corpses in coffins. There are also the ruins of a Christian cathedral, which Eusebius dedicated in 324 and describes in his ecclesiastical history.

It was restored by the crusaders, and in it were placed the remains of the emperor Frederick Barbarossa. An earthquake destroyed the rebuilt town in the beginning of the 13th century. In 1874 the tract of land on which the cathedral was situated was purchased by the German government for the purpose of excavating it, and the edifice has been partly unearthed. (For the history of Tyre, see Phoenicia).

Ruins of Tyre.