Tire, one of the premier cities in the region, was founded in the 3rd millennium BC. It will shine so much in History through its trading posts and will found Carthage, a Punic city which will compete with Rome. His King Hiram will send his architects and masons to build the temple in Jerusalem. Its historic place is therefore assured.

Originally a double city, on the one hand built on an island and on the other hand continental, Tire gradually extended towards the land thanks to the silting up of the dike built by Alexander the Great when it was taken in 332 BC. Tire moreover takes the origin of its name, SR which would mean in Phoenician, the Rock.

The discovery of Tire with the site says Al Mina.

Founded in 2750 BC according to ancient chronicles, it is in this city, precisely that the use of Murex from which we draw the famous Poupre color was discovered, allowing this locality to constitute, at the sandstone of its commercial counters that it will install as far as Great Britain, a veritable commercial empire, perhaps the first in history.

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A legend besides made of a princess of Tire, Elyssa, that the Romans will call Dido, the founder of Carthage, the greatest rival of the Roman Empire. Another no less notorious presence, Hiram 1st, king of Tire, who will send his craftsmen and his architects to help Solomon to build the famous temple of Jerusalem.

This story, which can only be described as glorious, will attract many invaders who will try to conquer the city. The sieges, in particular by the Babylonian forces from 586 before Jc to 573 before Jc to force it to pay a tribute and by the Greek forces of Alexander the Great who will raze the city in 332 before Jc, will mark the city. It is moreover with the Greek conqueror, that Tire, which was previously an island, will be attached to the mainland, by the silting up of the dike built in order to reach the city.

Located on the part of what was then the island of Tire, the archaeological site of Al Mina, excavated like that of Al Bass since 1947, presents a superb alley with a series of colonnades of marble and mosaics, bordered by each side by a residential area and a recreational center including public baths from the Roman and Byzantine period as well as the cisterns from the probably Phoenician period. A little further on, the city’s shopping center. Near this site are the ruins of the Venetian-style cathedral and the 12th century AD castle, ie from the time of the Crusades.

Charming city, it is also necessary to browse the old districts built on successive layers of civilizations which gave to these places, the reputation which will allow it to be registered in December 1983, in the World Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, on official request of the Lebanese government of the time and on the recommendation of ICOMOS. Today, a few houses in shimmering colors and located by the sea have been transformed by their owners into a hotel.

Outside the historical perimeter of the island, the Romans then the Byzantines developed the city with the presence of a necropolis and a hippodrome near the access road. On this part, will be added the famous Arc de Triomphe which could also be seen engraved on the banknotes of 250 Lebanese Pounds.

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