Lebanon as a whole is an ancient land full of history, with many people passing through and leaving their marks.Yet, the southern city of Tyre, in particular, has a very rich story and this can be observed by the many ruins that are found there. Tyre or Sour as it is mainly known in Lebanese in its ancient Phoenician name Ṣūr, remains the third-largest city in Lebanon and attracts many visitors annually.
It is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, though in medieval times for some centuries by just a tiny population. Tyre is inscribed in 1979 on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is one of the most important archaeological sites in the eastern Mediterranean. The city was the largest mercantile city of the Phoenicians, now most noted for the archeological remains of its Roman city and medieval constructions of the Crusaders. Furthermore, the Romans rebuilt the city after it had been ruined by Alexander’s rival, Antigonus. They implemented new roads, built aqueducts, and erected monuments (Ancient History Encyclopedia). The heritage site is divided in two: al-Mina and al-Bass. Al-Mina is on what was once an indestructible island and has Roman ruins and walls of a Crusader castle. Al-Bass is a necropolis, a city of the dead, with a hippodrome and an arch of triumph. Starting with the 5000 year-old Al-Mina is on a promontory and makes for a hazy wander along rows of columns down to an ancient harbour, now under water. You’ll walk along a street covered with Roman mosaics, past the remains of public baths, and a stadium. As to the stadium’s use, we can only deduce sports, probably. Next, Al-Bass is very interesting and very large. Just inside the entrance, the first thing you’ll stumble upon is a sprawling necropolis; a Roman cemetery, with bone-filled tombs and marble coffins. All along is an avenue, about a mile long, and straight as only Roman roads were cutting right through the city gate, the tall and gorgeous arch. To the side is a large field with an aqueduct and a hippodrome that once had room for an audience of 20 000, all keen to watch the chariot races.