Tyre

Tyre is a historic city on the Mediterranean coast of southern Lebanon. It is the administrative center of Tyre District in the Nabatieh Governorate, located about 65 kilometers south of Beirut. The city comprises an ancient island city and a mainland area connected by a causeway. The island fortress and harbor ruins are part of the Ancient City of Tyre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site designated in 1984, which preserves extensive Phoenician, Roman, and Byzantine remains.

Tyre’s origins lie in the Phoenician civilization. From the 2nd millennium BCE, it was a major maritime and commercial power, renowned for Tyrian purple dye produced from murex snails and for its trading networks across the Mediterranean. It established colonies and influenced coastal cities from North Africa to Spain. The city endured sieges, notably by Nebuchadnezzar II, and was reshaped by Alexander the Great, who built a land bridge to the island in 332 BCE. The island ruins include temple precincts and fortifications that reflect its ancient wealth. In late antiquity and the medieval period, Tyre remained an important port and Christian center; it is mentioned in early Christian writings and is associated with the apostle Paul’s voyage.

Today Tyre is a coastal urban center with fishing and commercial activity. Tourism centers on the ancient ruins, the island fortress, the Al-Bass archaeological area, beaches, and a seafront promenade. The population is predominantly Arabic-speaking, with diverse religious communities, and the economy includes shipping, trade, and services.