Sidon: Ancient City of Phoenicia and Gateway to the Mediterranean

Sidon, located on the Mediterranean coast of Lebanon, stands as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with a history stretching back over 6,000 years. Founded around the 3rd millennium BCE, Sidon was a prominent city-state of ancient Phoenicia, renowned for its maritime trade, skilled craftsmanship, and strategic location.

Sidon gained wealth and fame primarily through its production of purple dye, derived from the murex sea snail, and its glassware, both of which were highly prized in the ancient world. The city became a hub of commerce, exporting these luxury goods across the Mediterranean, and was frequently mentioned in historical texts, including Homer’s epics and the Old Testament, highlighting its importance in antiquity.

Throughout its long history, Sidon was ruled by various empires, including the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and Greeks, each leaving its mark on the city’s cultural and architectural landscape. In 332 BCE, Alexander the Great conquered Sidon, integrating it into his vast empire and further boosting its prosperity. Under Roman rule, Sidon continued to flourish, becoming a center of learning and culture, with its schools and libraries attracting scholars from across the region.

The city’s strategic importance persisted through the Byzantine era and the early Islamic period, when Arab Muslims took control in the 7th century CE. During the Crusades, Sidon changed hands multiple times, reflecting its value to both Christian and Muslim forces. The city was eventually rebuilt after being destroyed and continued to thrive as a significant coastal center.

Significant archaeological finds in Sidon include the sarcophagi of Phoenician kings and the famous Alexander Sarcophagus, now housed in Istanbul’s Archaeological Museum. Sidon’s architectural heritage is rich, with notable sites such as the Crusader castles and the Phoenician Temple of Eshmun, which reflect its diverse historical influences.

Today, Sidon remains a vibrant city, where ancient history blends seamlessly with modern life. Its historical significance and cultural heritage continue to attract scholars and tourists alike, making it a key site for understanding the ancient Mediterranean world.
Sidon: Ancient City of Phoenicia and Gateway to the Mediterranean

Ancient Byblos

The first settlers in this city established themselves on the higher of the two hills of the tell, very near the cliff where they built a village of relatively big huts, some 1.2 hectares in extent. This city was the northernmost of ancient Phoenicia’s three major seaports, together with Sidon and Tyre.

Called Gebal by the Phoenicians, Byblos was one of the earliest cities of the Near East probably occupied by around 5000 BC.  The name Byblos derives from the Greek word bublos meaning ‘papyrus scroll’, reflecting the city’s importance as an intermediary in the papyrus trade between Egypt and the Aegean world.

During the Old and Middle Kingdoms, Byblos was Egypt’s principal associate in Near Eastern tarred.

The city’s international prestige was because of the abundance of its cedar, pine and cypress forests growing in the nearby mountains which furnished the timber and aromatic resins highly prized by the Egyptians.

In the Phoenician heyday of the 900s-700s BC Byblos was the nation’s capital with a powerful navy and trade routes extending to Greece and Egypt.

Byblos’s political fortunes in the era 700-300 BC followed those of greater Phoenicia and the city quickly faded in importance after the founding of the early Seleucid-Greek city of Antioch (300BC).
Ancient Byblos

City of Sidon in Lebanon

The Phoenicians were the descendents of Canaan, the grandson of Noah, and occupied a tract of country, which was bounded on the north and east by Syria, on the south by Judea and on the west by the Mediterranean. The Phoenicians earned the reputation of being the best seamen in the world.

Phoenicia was divided into several small kingdoms, of which the most considerable were those of Sidon, Tyre, and Arad. Sidon was a major seaport with two deep harbors. In Homer also (1000-800 BC) frequent mention is made of the merchants and skilful artist of Sidon.

Sidon, the eldest son of Canaan, founded the city which bore his name. While Eustathius declares that Sidon was built by Belus and named after his daughter Side.

In the ninth century Sidon, which had become a vassal of Tyre, resumed her independence, but Assyria had now in 880 BC stretched her hand over Phoenicia and in 842 BC both sites, Tyre and Sidon including northern kingdom of Israel paid their tribute.

Despite its woes at the hands of the Assyrians, Sidon remained a wealthy and prosperous city, until Sidonians became tired of paying tribute and rebelled. In 679-8 BC Sidon revolted against Assyria and was destroyed.

In the early sixth century BC Sidon got caught in the middle of a dispute between Egypt and Babylonia and in 587 BC it was captures by Nebuchadnezzar.

In the Persian period, Sidon have been the main and the most prosperous of the Phoenician cities, but later suffered from the aftermaths of the Tennes revolt in 351 BC.

Three times the city of Sidon was captured by the Crusaders and three times it was captured by the Muslim armies.
City of Sidon in Lebanon