Tyre

Transliterated Name	Source	Name
Tyre	Arabic	صور
Tyrus	Latin
Tyros	Greek	Τύρος
Sur	Phoenician
Ṣurru	Akkadian
Tzór	Hebrew	צוֹר

Introduction

from Chat GPT 5.3, 7 March 2026
Sources: Marriner et al. (2005); Ward in Meyers et al. (1997); Wikipedia: Tyre

Tyre (ancient Sur) was originally an island city off the southern coast of modern Lebanon. Archaeological and geoarchaeological research indicates occupation since the Bronze Age and shows that the city developed around natural harbors that facilitated maritime activity and regional trade ( Marriner et al. 2005). During the Iron Age Tyre became one of the most powerful Phoenician city-states and a major center of Mediterranean commerce. The city reached a period of prominence between the ninth and sixth centuries BCE, when it maintained an extensive maritime network across the Mediterranean and founded colonies including Carthage. Although Tyre lost its political independence when it came under Persian control in the late sixth century BCE, it remained an important urban center throughout the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods, as reflected by the large number of archaeological remains preserved at the site ( Marriner et al. 2005). Classical tradition attributes a major early expansion of the island city to the reign of King Hiram (969–936 BCE), when landfill reportedly joined nearby reefs and enlarged the settlement. In 332 BCE Alexander the Great built a causeway from the mainland to capture the island during his siege of Tyre. Sediment transported by coastal currents subsequently accumulated against this structure, gradually transforming the island into the present peninsula ( Ward in Meyers et al. 1997). The city functioned largely as an administrative and religious center and relied on its mainland counterpart, Ushu, for agricultural produce and freshwater supplies.

Tyre at The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites

from The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites

Maps, Aerial Views, and Plans

Maps and Aerial Views

Normal Size

Fig. 2 Location of cores and

Fig. 2

Tyre, location of cores and coastal bathymetry. The strongest winds and swell derive from the south-west. Core sites are marked by a black dot.

Marriner et al (2005)

coastal bathymetry from Marriner et al (2005)
Fig. 14 Reconstructed palaeobathymetry

Fig. 14

Reconstructed palaeobathymetry of Tyre around 6000 years BP. Coastline reconstructed using stratigraphy, present bathymetry and geochronology.

Marriner et al (2005)

of Tyre around 6000 years BP from Marriner et al (2005)
Fig. 17 Aerial photograph with

Fig. 17

Maximum extension of Tyre’s MBA northern harbour (1950s aerial photograph). Our work reveals the ancient harbour was ca. 40% larger than present, the extra surface area lying beneath the Medieval and Modern city centres

Marriner et al (2005)

core locations from Marriner et al (2005)
Tyre in Google Earth

Tyre

click on image to explore this site on a new tab in Google Earth

Magnified

Fig. 2 Location of cores and

Fig. 2

Tyre, location of cores and coastal bathymetry. The strongest winds and swell derive from the south-west. Core sites are marked by a black dot.

Marriner et al (2005)

coastal bathymetry from Marriner et al (2005)
Fig. 14 Reconstructed palaeobathymetry

Fig. 14

Reconstructed palaeobathymetry of Tyre around 6000 years BP. Coastline reconstructed using stratigraphy, present bathymetry and geochronology.

Marriner et al (2005)

of Tyre around 6000 years BP from Marriner et al (2005)

Plans

Normal Size

Fig. 1 Site plan from

Fig. 1

General plan of the site

Inventory 2009 (G. Ch., C. D., Cl. P., X. H., Mission de Tyr)

Gatier et al (2011)

Gatier et al (2011)
Fig. 6 Plan of the thermal

Fig. 6

(G. Ch., C. D., X. H., Mission de Tyr)

Gatier et al (2011)

complex and residential area Gatier et al (2011)

Magnified

Fig. 1 Site plan from

Fig. 1

General plan of the site

Inventory 2009 (G. Ch., C. D., Cl. P., X. H., Mission de Tyr)

Gatier et al (2011)

Gatier et al (2011)
Fig. 6 Plan of the thermal

Fig. 6

(G. Ch., C. D., X. H., Mission de Tyr)

Gatier et al (2011)

complex and residential area Gatier et al (2011)

Cores

Fig. 3 Macrofauna core TV

Fig. 3

Macrofauna core TV.

Marriner et al (2005)

from Marriner et al (2005)
Fig. 4 Ostracoda core TV

Fig. 4

Ostracoda core TV.

Marriner et al (2005)

from Marriner et al (2005)
Fig. 8 Grain size analyses

Fig. 8

Grain size analyses core TIX.

Marriner et al (2005)

core TIX from Marriner et al (2005)
Fig. 9 Grain size analyses

Fig. 9

Grain size analyses core TI.

Marriner et al (2005)

core TI from Marriner et al (2005)
Fig. 10 Macrofauna core

Fig. 10

Macrofauna core TIX.

Marriner et al (2005)

TIX from Marriner et al (2005)
Fig. 11 Macrofauna core

Fig. 11

Macrofauna core TI.

Marriner et al (2005)

TI from Marriner et al (2005)
Fig. 12 Ostracoda core TI

Fig. 12

Ostracoda core TI.

Marriner et al (2005)

from Marriner et al (2005)
Fig. 13 Foraminifera core

Fig. 13

Foraminifera core TI.

Marriner et al (2005)

TI from Marriner et al (2005)
Cross-correlation of stratigraphic

Fig. 16

Cross-correlation of stratigraphic units from cores in the northern harbour.

Marriner et al (2005)

units from cores in the northern harbour from Marriner et al (2005)

Posidonius Quake - 2nd century BCE

Discussion

Dead Fish and Soldiers Quake - ~142 BCE

Discussion

Eusebius' Martyr Quake - 303-306 CE

Discussion

Fire in the Sky Quake - 502 CE

Discussion

551 CE Beirut Quake

Discussion

Fallen Walls of Tripoli Quake(s) - ~1063 CE

Discussion

August to September 1157 CE Hama and Shaizar Quake(s)

Discussion

1170 CE Quake(s)

Discussion

1202 CE Quakes

Discussion

1837 CE Safed Quake

Discussion

Tsunamigenic evidence in the 1st millennium BCE

Discussion

Tsunamigenic evidence between the 6th and 10th centuries CE

Discussion

References

Notes by JW

Marriner et al (2005) undertook a litho and biostratigraphical study of four core sequences from the landward edge of the current harbor. AMS radiocarbon dating was performed on dateable material found in the cores. The cores appeared to capture harbor sediments and showed a clear break in sedimentaion at the end of the Byzantine era noting the following :

4.6. Unit A - Exposed beach environment (post-Byzantine)

The transition to unit A is dated to between the 6th to 10th centuries AD. The unit comprises a grey, shelly sand unit with textures of between: 3% to 31% for the gravels, 58% to 83% for the sands and 9% to 18% for the silts and clays.

Cerithium vulgatum and Pirenella conica dominatethe macrofauna suite, with numerous secondary species from diverse biocenoses (Ringicula auriculata, Nassarius pygmaeus, Gibberula miliaria ), consequence of an environmental opening. The increase in coastal ostracod taxa such as Urocythereis sp. and Aurila woodwardii, is to the detriment of the formerly abundant lagoonal taxa of unit B. This translates a re-exposure of the environment to the inﬂuence of the marine swell and currents. For the foraminifera, the dominant taxa are Ammonia convexa, Peneroplis planatus and Cellanthus craticulatum. The tests of many of these individuals have been broken by waveaction, conﬁrming a rise in energy dynamics, due to the collapse of harbour maintenance. This is linked to the demise of Tyre as a Mediterranean commercial centre.

Core profiles were presented and tsunamites were not found in the parts of the cores dated to the 6th - 10th centuries CE but a loss of harbor maintenance (e.g. continuous dredging operations) was evident.

Morhange et al (2006:90) noted that

In Tyre, port opening may have been amplified by approx. 3 m collapse of the island after the 6th century AD (Marriner et al. 2005). Its northern Persian (?) mole is currently 2.5 m below present sea level (Descamps, pers. commun.), translating a subsidence of approx. 3-3.5 m. On the southern shore, drowned quarries at -2.5 m below MSL have also been discovered, and similar subsidence is translated in the city's coastal chronostratigraphy.

Posidonius Quake - 2nd century BCE

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description
Subsidence ? Tsunami ?	Tyre		"And in Phoenicia, says Poseidonius, on the occasion of an earthquake, a city situated above Sidon was swallowed up, and nearly two-thirds of Sidon itself was engulfed too, but not all at once, so that no considerable destruction of human life took place. The same operation of nature extended also over the whole of Syria, but with rather moderate force; and it also passed over to certain islands, both the Cyclades and Euboea, with the result that the fountains of Arethusa (a spring in Chalcis) were stopped up, though after many days they gushed up at another mouth, and the island did not cease from being shaken in some part or other until a chasm in the earth opened in the Lelantine Plain and vomited forth a river of fiery lava." - Strabo citing Posidonius "Thucydides tells us that, about the time of the Peloponnesian War, the island of Atalanta, either wholly, or, at any rate, for the most part, was swallowed up. You may take Posidonius for witness that the same thing happened to Sidon." - Seneca the Younger citing Posidonius "At this time Antiochus [IX] surnamed Kyzikenos [r. 116-96 BCE] was ruling in Syria, in whose reign a great earthquake happened in the East and a countless number of Syrians perished; the city of Tyre on the coast was submerged into the sea and a comet shone for several days, announcing to him his death." - John of Antioch

Dead Fish and Soldiers Quake - ~142 BCE

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description
Tsunami	Somewhere between Acre and Tyre		"A marvellous occurrence of a very rare kind is reported as having taken place on this shore between Tyre and Ptolemaïs: at the time when the Ptolemaeans, after joining battle the Sarpedon the general, were left in this place, after a brilliant rout had taken place, a wave from the sea, like a flood-tide, submerged the fugitives; and some were carried off into the sea and destroyed, whereas others were left dead in the hollow places; and then, succeeding this wave, the ebb uncovered the shore again and disclosed the bodies of men lying promiscuously among dead fish. Like occurrences take place in the neighborhood of the Mt. Casius situated near Aegypt, where the land undergoes a single quick convulsion, and makes a sudden change to a higher or lower level, the result being that, whereas the elevated part repels the sea and the sunken part receives it, yet, the land makes a reverse change and the site resumes its old position again, a complete interchange of levels sometimes having taken place and sometimes not. Perhaps such disturbances are subject to periodic principles unknown to us, as is also should be the case of the overflows of the Nile, which prove to be variant but follow some unknown order." - Strabo possibly citing Posidonius "I know also that Poseidonius the Stoic speaks of a great quantity of fishes in these words: When Tryphon of Apameia, who had seized the kingdom of Syria, was attacked near the city of Ptolemais by Sarpedon, Demetrius's general, the latter was defeated and forced to retreat into the interior with his troops. Tryphon's army were marching along the coast after their victory in the battle, when suddenly a wave from the ocean lifted itself to an extraordinary height and dashed upon the shore, engulfing all the men and drowning them beneath the waters. And when the wave receded it left behind a huge pile of fishes among the dead bodies. The followers of Sarpedon, hearing of this disaster, came up and gloated over the bodies of their enemies, while they also carried away an abundance of fish and offered sacrifice to Poseidon, god of the rout, near the suburbs of the city." - Athenaeus of Naucratis citing Posidonius "At this time Antiochus [IX] surnamed Kyzikenos [r. 116-96 BCE] was ruling in Syria, in whose reign a great earthquake happened in the East and a countless number of Syrians perished; the city of Tyre on the coast was submerged into the sea and a comet shone for several days, announcing to him his death." - John of Antioch

Eusebius' Martyr Quake - 303-306 CE

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description
Collapsed Walls Casualties	Tyre		"In a horrible earthquake at Tyre and Sidon, many edifices were ruined and an immense number of people were crushed." - Jerome's translation of the 2nd part of Chronicon by Eusebius "An earthquake in Syria followed in which many thousands of men in Tyre and Sidon were killed by falling buildings." - Orosius

Fire in the Sky Quake - 502 CE

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description
Collapsed Walls	Tyre		"Furthermore, some days later some Tyrians and Sidonians came to us and told us that parts of their cities, i.e., part of Tyre and part of Sidon, also fell down on the same day as the fire appeared and Ptolemais was flattened." - Pseudo Joshua the Stylite "A mighty earthquake took place and Ptolemais (Acco) was overturned as well as Tyre and Sidon." - Pseudo‑Dionysius of Tell-Mahre

551 CE Beirut Quake

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description
Collapsed Walls Casulaties (due to collapsed walls) Limited Damage according to one author - Symeon	Tyre		"a severe and tremendous earthquake occurred throughout the land of Palestine, in Arabia and in the land of Mesopotamia, Antioch, Phoenice Maritima and Phoenice Libanensis. In this terror the following cities suffered: 'Tyre, Sidon, Berytus, Tripolis, Byblus, Botrys and parts of other cities. Large numbers of people were trapped in them. ... The emperor sent money to all the provinces and restored parts of these cities. " - Johannes Malalas "the area to the south from Tyre to Jerusalem was also preserved, just as Symeon had seen in his vision." - The Life of Symeon of the Wondrous Mountain "a great and terrible earthquake happened ... many cities of the Phoenician littoral collapsed, viz. Tyre, Sidon, Berytus, Tripolis, Biblus (sic.) and Botrys, and other cities" - Fragmenta Historica Tusculana "In the month of Haziran (June) of this year, a severe and powerful earthquake occurred, in addition to the other ones. Numerous cities collapsed, as did the cities of Phoenicia — that is Arabia and Palestine, Beirut, Tripolis, Tyre, Sidon, Sarepta, Byblos, Antarados, and the rest of their towns, villages and districts fell and were ruined. Because of sins, many people were buried in their houses in the wrath, as were the cattle and other things." - Pseudo‑Dionysius of Tell-Mahre "there was a severe and frightful earthquake throughout Palestine, Arabia, Mesopotamia, Syria, and Phoenicia. The following cities suffered: Tyre, Sidon, Berytos, Tripolis, and Byblos ... The emperor sent money for restoring what had fallen in these cities. The sea retreated one mile towards the deep and many ships were lost. Later, at God's command, it returned to its own bed." - Theophanes

Fallen Walls of Tripoli Quake(s) - ~1063 CE

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description
Affected	Tyre		"(a.H. 455) In the month of Sha’aban an earthquake occurred at Antioch and Ladhiqyya, in part of the country of Rum, at Tripoli, Tyre and Acre in Sham. The walls of Tripoli collapsed" - Ibn al‑Jawzi "In the month of latter Jumada of the year 455 [30 April 1065 to 28 May 1066] a very violent earthquake occurred in Wasit’, Ant’akia, al-Ladhiqiyya, Sur [Tyre], ‘Akka, ar-Rum and Ard’ ash-Sham" - as‑Suyūṭī

August to September 1157 CE Hama and Shaizar Quake(s)

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description
Damaged Ruined	Tyre		"The cities of Sidon, Beirut, Tripoli, Acre, Tyre and all the citadels of the Franks were damaged." - Ibn al‑Athir "Sidon, Beirut, Tripoli, Acre, Tyre and all the Frankish strongholds were ruined, and the poets of the time composed numerous verses on this catastrophe." - Ibn Taghri Birdi

1170 CE Quake(s)

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description
Collapse of some very solidly built Towers	Tyre		"At Tyre, the most famous city in the province, on the other hand, an even more violent earthquake proved to be no danger to the population, though it did cause the collapse of some very solidly built towers." - William of Tyre "A violent earthquake happened in 1170, cities and castles collapsed in the SEHL(N), i.e. SUR [TYRE}, AK'K'A, TRAPAWLIS, YARKA, LATIKN, VALANIN, ANTAK' and other cities on the day of Sts Peter's and Paul's feast. (27 December 1170]" - Hetʿum of Korykos (Chronicle)

1202 CE Quakes

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description
Collapsed Walls Casualties	Tyre		"Tyre, a city of strength and a refuge of Christians, which always freed the oppressed from the hands of evil-doers, suffered so great an overthrow of its walls, towers, churches and houses that no man living now could expect to see it restored in his lifetime. What should we write about the death of the men of that city, when death took them without number in the ruins of their homes? This sorrow, this death, lamentable before [all] other things, and this unfortunate event adds shudders [of terror] to our fear." - Geoffrey of Donjon "At the city of Tyre, all but three of its towers were destroyed, and all the city walls except for the outer barbicans, and all the houses with their inhabitants, except for a few survivors." - Philipe Du Plessis "Similarly the city of Tyre, the most [strongly] fortified in those parts, was almost completely overturned, while all of its towers bar three collapsed, and the ramparts, as high as they were solid, were either badly damaged or almost thrown to the ground, except for some forewalls which they call barbicans; all the houses and the buildings, with a few exceptions, were shaken." - Robert of Auxerre "It is said that the greater part of Acre has been overthrown, as well as a third of the city of Tyre, Irka and Safith have been swallowed up." - Ibn al-Latif al-Baghdadi quoting a letter from Damascus "The walls of the city of Tyre were destroyed, and the earthquake caused damage throughout Syria." - Ibn al-Athir "This earthquake affected three of the coastal cities, viz. Tyre, Tripolis and `Araqa" - Sibt ibn al-Jawzi "Acre and Sur [Tyre] were destroyed, as well as all the citadels along the coast. " - Abu Shama "earthquakes occurred in the land and brought down the walls of Tyre, Beirut and Acre, much of which was rebuilt." - The Chronicle of Ernoul and of Bernard le Tresorier "another bakery, which belonged to the Veneto community, but has now been destroyed in an earthquake; another bakery of that community, now destroyed in the earthquake; and another bakery, situated on the public street towards the east, also destroyed in the earthquake; a piece of land, whose houses have now been destroyed the earthquake, towards the north, by the city walls; and a house, similar in form to tower, which stood on the street, but has now been destroyed in the earthquake" - Marsilio Zorzi discussing damage in Tyre "The funds ordered from Cisteaux were taken overseas. Never before have they come to such a good conclusion as by master Foque had at Cisteaux, because there had been earthquakes [in the Holy Land]. If the walls of Tyre and Acre were to be rebuilt, it should be done with [some of] those funds." - History of Heraclius (also known as The Eracles or Estoire d’Eracles) "there was also an earthquake and it destroyed many buildings and high walls in Damascus, and Emesa, and Hamath, and Tripoli, and Tyre, and 'Akko, and Shamrin (Samaria)" - Bar Hebraeus "The walls of Tyre were torn down." - Abu'l-Fida "Likewise Akka and Tyre were destroyed, along with the fortresses of the coast" - Ibn al-Dawādārī "And Sur [Tyre] was destroyed" - Ibn al-Wardi "In the year 1202, an earthquake devastated Acre, Sur (Tyre), Gibelet, and Archis, and part of Tripoli; and many Christian and Saracen towns." - Annales de Terre Sainte

1837 CE Safed Quake

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description
Collapsed Walls Casualties Ruins/Debris People sleeping out of doors after the earthquake	Tyre		"Tyre Slightly injured" - The Times (London) "In this place [Tyre] the destruction is far greater. We rode into town last night over the prostrate wall. The road was nearly blocked up with ruins, and every where the wind, now blowing almost a hurricane, growled through shattered walls and broken windows; while half suspended shutters and unclosed doors were creaking, clattering, and banging in dreadful 'confusion. My horse absolutely refused to enter the frightful place, until I descended, and quieting her fears, led her into town. 15. Spent this morning in prayer and reading the Scriptures, after which we took a survey of the place, gave medicine to the wounded; and although it was the Lord's day, we proposed to leave for Safet. The accounts from that place are so distressing as to leave no doubt on our minds that it is a work of mercy to hasten to the relief of the sufferers, even by traveling on this sacred day. Tyre is considered by the inhabitants as nearly ruined, and not even the best houses will be habitable without tearing down and rebuilding a large part of what remains. Twelve persons were killed at the time of the earthquake and thirty wounded." - William McClure Thomson's article in the Missionary Herald "many houses were thrown down in Tyre and Sidon, and several were cracked and injured" - Edward Robinson "In Sidon the work of destruction became very noticeable, and in Tyre still more so. We rode into the latter at midnight over her prostrate walls, and found some of the streets so choked up with fallen houses that we could not pass through them. I shall retain a vivid recollection of that dismal night while life lasts. The wind had risen to a cold, cross gale, which howled through shattered walls and broken windows its doleful wail over ruined Tyre. The people were sleeping in boats drawn up on shore, and in tents beside them, while half-suspended shutters and doors unhinged were creaking and tinging in dreadful concert." - William McClure Thomson in his Book 'The Land and the Book'

Posidonius Quake - 2nd century BCE

Earthquake Archeological

Earthquake Archeological Effects Chart

Click on image to open in a new tab

Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013)

Effects from Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224)

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description	Intensity
Subsidence ? Tsunami ?	Tyre		"And in Phoenicia, says Poseidonius, on the occasion of an earthquake, a city situated above Sidon was swallowed up, and nearly two-thirds of Sidon itself was engulfed too, but not all at once, so that no considerable destruction of human life took place. The same operation of nature extended also over the whole of Syria, but with rather moderate force; and it also passed over to certain islands, both the Cyclades and Euboea, with the result that the fountains of Arethusa (a spring in Chalcis) were stopped up, though after many days they gushed up at another mouth, and the island did not cease from being shaken in some part or other until a chasm in the earth opened in the Lelantine Plain and vomited forth a river of fiery lava." - Strabo citing Posidonius "Thucydides tells us that, about the time of the Peloponnesian War, the island of Atalanta, either wholly, or, at any rate, for the most part, was swallowed up. You may take Posidonius for witness that the same thing happened to Sidon." - Seneca the Younger citing Posidonius "At this time Antiochus [IX] surnamed Kyzikenos [r. 116-96 BCE] was ruling in Syria, in whose reign a great earthquake happened in the East and a countless number of Syrians perished; the city of Tyre on the coast was submerged into the sea and a comet shone for several days, announcing to him his death." - John of Antioch	IV+ ? IX+ ?

This evidence requires a minimum Intensity of IX (9) when using the Earthquake Archeological Effects chart of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224).

Dead Fish and Soldiers Quake - ~142 BCE

Earthquake Archeological

Earthquake Archeological Effects Chart

Click on image to open in a new tab

Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013)

Effects from Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224)

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description	Intensity
Tsunami	Somewhere between Acre and Tyre		"A marvellous occurrence of a very rare kind is reported as having taken place on this shore between Tyre and Ptolemaïs: at the time when the Ptolemaeans, after joining battle the Sarpedon the general, were left in this place, after a brilliant rout had taken place, a wave from the sea, like a flood-tide, submerged the fugitives; and some were carried off into the sea and destroyed, whereas others were left dead in the hollow places; and then, succeeding this wave, the ebb uncovered the shore again and disclosed the bodies of men lying promiscuously among dead fish. Like occurrences take place in the neighborhood of the Mt. Casius situated near Aegypt, where the land undergoes a single quick convulsion, and makes a sudden change to a higher or lower level, the result being that, whereas the elevated part repels the sea and the sunken part receives it, yet, the land makes a reverse change and the site resumes its old position again, a complete interchange of levels sometimes having taken place and sometimes not. Perhaps such disturbances are subject to periodic principles unknown to us, as is also should be the case of the overflows of the Nile, which prove to be variant but follow some unknown order." - Strabo possibly citing Posidonius "I know also that Poseidonius the Stoic speaks of a great quantity of fishes in these words: When Tryphon of Apameia, who had seized the kingdom of Syria, was attacked near the city of Ptolemais by Sarpedon, Demetrius's general, the latter was defeated and forced to retreat into the interior with his troops. Tryphon's army were marching along the coast after their victory in the battle, when suddenly a wave from the ocean lifted itself to an extraordinary height and dashed upon the shore, engulfing all the men and drowning them beneath the waters. And when the wave receded it left behind a huge pile of fishes among the dead bodies. The followers of Sarpedon, hearing of this disaster, came up and gloated over the bodies of their enemies, while they also carried away an abundance of fish and offered sacrifice to Poseidon, god of the rout, near the suburbs of the city." - Athenaeus of Naucratis citing Posidonius "At this time Antiochus [IX] surnamed Kyzikenos [r. 116-96 BCE] was ruling in Syria, in whose reign a great earthquake happened in the East and a countless number of Syrians perished; the city of Tyre on the coast was submerged into the sea and a comet shone for several days, announcing to him his death." - John of Antioch	IX+

This evidence requires a minimum Intensity of IX (9) when using the Earthquake Archeological Effects chart of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224).

Eusebius' Martyr Quake - 303-306 CE

Earthquake Archeological

Earthquake Archeological Effects Chart

Click on image to open in a new tab

Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013)

Effects from Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224)

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description	Intensity
Collapsed Walls Casualties (due to collapsed walls)	Tyre		"In a horrible earthquake at Tyre and Sidon, many edifices were ruined and an immense number of people were crushed." - Jerome's translation of the 2nd part of Chronicon by Eusebius "An earthquake in Syria followed in which many thousands of men in Tyre and Sidon were killed by falling buildings." - Orosius	VIII+ VIII+

This evidence requires a minimum Intensity of VIII (8) when using the Earthquake Archeological Effects chart of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224).

Fire in the Sky Quake - 502 CE

Earthquake Archeological

Earthquake Archeological Effects Chart

Click on image to open in a new tab

Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013)

Effects from Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224)

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description	Intensity
Collapsed Walls	Tyre		"Furthermore, some days later some Tyrians and Sidonians came to us and told us that parts of their cities, i.e., part of Tyre and part of Sidon, also fell down on the same day as the fire appeared and Ptolemais was flattened." - Pseudo Joshua the Stylite "A mighty earthquake took place and Ptolemais (Acco) was overturned as well as Tyre and Sidon." - Pseudo‑Dionysius of Tell-Mahre	VIII+

This evidence requires a minimum Intensity of VIII (8) when using the Earthquake Archeological Effects chart of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224).

551 CE Beirut Quake

Simple MMI Intensity Scale

Simple MMI Intensity Scale

Click on image to open in a new tab
More Subjective MMI Intensity Scale

More Subjective MMI Scale

Click on image to open in a new tab

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description	Intensity
Collapsed Walls Casulaties (due to collapsed walls) Limited Damage according to one author - Symeon	Tyre		"a severe and tremendous earthquake occurred throughout the land of Palestine, in Arabia and in the land of Mesopotamia, Antioch, Phoenice Maritima and Phoenice Libanensis. In this terror the following cities suffered: 'Tyre, Sidon, Berytus, Tripolis, Byblus, Botrys and parts of other cities. Large numbers of people were trapped in them. ... The emperor sent money to all the provinces and restored parts of these cities. " - Johannes Malalas "the area to the south from Tyre to Jerusalem was also preserved, just as Symeon had seen in his vision." - The Life of Symeon of the Wondrous Mountain "a great and terrible earthquake happened ... many cities of the Phoenician littoral collapsed, viz. Tyre, Sidon, Berytus, Tripolis, Biblus (sic.) and Botrys, and other cities" - Fragmenta Historica Tusculana "In the month of Haziran (June) of this year, a severe and powerful earthquake occurred, in addition to the other ones. Numerous cities collapsed, as did the cities of Phoenicia — that is Arabia and Palestine, Beirut, Tripolis, Tyre, Sidon, Sarepta, Byblos, Antarados, and the rest of their towns, villages and districts fell and were ruined. Because of sins, many people were buried in their houses in the wrath, as were the cattle and other things." - Pseudo‑Dionysius of Tell-Mahre "there was a severe and frightful earthquake throughout Palestine, Arabia, Mesopotamia, Syria, and Phoenicia. The following cities suffered: Tyre, Sidon, Berytos, Tripolis, and Byblos ... The emperor sent money for restoring what had fallen in these cities. The sea retreated one mile towards the deep and many ships were lost. Later, at God's command, it returned to its own bed." - Theophanes	VIII+ VIII+ VI+

This evidence requires a minimum Intensity of VIII (8) when using the Earthquake Archeological Effects chart of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224).

Fallen Walls of Tripoli Quake(s) - ~1063 CE

Simple MMI Intensity Scale

Simple MMI Intensity Scale

Click on image to open in a new tab
More Subjective MMI Intensity Scale

More Subjective MMI Scale

Click on image to open in a new tab

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description	Intensity
Affected	Tyre		"(a.H. 455) In the month of Sha’aban an earthquake occurred at Antioch and Ladhiqyya, in part of the country of Rum, at Tripoli, Tyre and Acre in Sham. The walls of Tripoli collapsed" - Ibn al‑Jawzi "In the month of latter Jumada of the year 455 [30 April 1065 to 28 May 1066] a very violent earthquake occurred in Wasit’, Ant’akia, al-Ladhiqiyya, Sur [Tyre], ‘Akka, ar-Rum and Ard’ ash-Sham" - as‑Suyūṭī	VI+

This evidence requires a minimum Intensity of VI (6) when using the Earthquake Archeological Effects chart of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224).

August to September 1157 CE Hama and Shaizar Quake(s)

Earthquake Archeological

Earthquake Archeological Effects Chart

Click on image to open in a new tab

Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013)

Effects from Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224)

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description	Intensity
Damaged (collapsed walls) Ruined (collapsed walls)	Tyre		"The cities of Sidon, Beirut, Tripoli, Acre, Tyre and all the citadels of the Franks were damaged." - Ibn al‑Athir "Sidon, Beirut, Tripoli, Acre, Tyre and all the Frankish strongholds were ruined, and the poets of the time composed numerous verses on this catastrophe." - Ibn Taghri Birdi	VIII+ VIII+

This evidence requires a minimum Intensity of VIII (8) when using the Earthquake Archeological Effects chart of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224).

1170 CE Quake(s)

Earthquake Archeological

Earthquake Archeological Effects Chart

Click on image to open in a new tab

Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013)

Effects from Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224)

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description	Intensity
Collapse of some very solidly built Towers	Tyre		"At Tyre, the most famous city in the province, on the other hand, an even more violent earthquake proved to be no danger to the population, though it did cause the collapse of some very solidly built towers." - William of Tyre "A violent earthquake happened in 1170, cities and castles collapsed in the SEHL(N), i.e. SUR [TYRE}, AK'K'A, TRAPAWLIS, YARKA, LATIKN, VALANIN, ANTAK' and other cities on the day of Sts Peter's and Paul's feast. (27 December 1170]" - Hetʿum of Korykos (Chronicle)	VIII+

Although this evidence suggests a minimum intensity of VIII (8) according to the Earthquake Archaeological Effects chart of Rodríguez-Pascua et al. (2013:221-224), the statement by William of Tyre that the earthquake "proved to be no danger to the population" may imply a somewhat lower level of shaking, perhaps closer to intensity VII (7).

1202 CE Quakes

Earthquake Archeological

Earthquake Archeological Effects Chart

Click on image to open in a new tab

Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013)

Effects from Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224)

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description	Intensity
Collapsed Walls Casualties (due to collapsed walls)	Tyre		"Tyre, a city of strength and a refuge of Christians, which always freed the oppressed from the hands of evil-doers, suffered so great an overthrow of its walls, towers, churches and houses that no man living now could expect to see it restored in his lifetime. What should we write about the death of the men of that city, when death took them without number in the ruins of their homes? This sorrow, this death, lamentable before [all] other things, and this unfortunate event adds shudders [of terror] to our fear." - Geoffrey of Donjon "At the city of Tyre, all but three of its towers were destroyed, and all the city walls except for the outer barbicans, and all the houses with their inhabitants, except for a few survivors." - Philipe Du Plessis "Similarly the city of Tyre, the most [strongly] fortified in those parts, was almost completely overturned, while all of its towers bar three collapsed, and the ramparts, as high as they were solid, were either badly damaged or almost thrown to the ground, except for some forewalls which they call barbicans; all the houses and the buildings, with a few exceptions, were shaken." - Robert of Auxerre "It is said that the greater part of Acre has been overthrown, as well as a third of the city of Tyre, Irka and Safith have been swallowed up." - Ibn al-Latif al-Baghdadi quoting a letter from Damascus "The walls of the city of Tyre were destroyed, and the earthquake caused damage throughout Syria." - Ibn al-Athir "This earthquake affected three of the coastal cities, viz. Tyre, Tripolis and `Araqa" - Sibt ibn al-Jawzi "Acre and Sur [Tyre] were destroyed, as well as all the citadels along the coast. " - Abu Shama "earthquakes occurred in the land and brought down the walls of Tyre, Beirut and Acre, much of which was rebuilt." - The Chronicle of Ernoul and of Bernard le Tresorier "another bakery, which belonged to the Veneto community, but has now been destroyed in an earthquake; another bakery of that community, now destroyed in the earthquake; and another bakery, situated on the public street towards the east, also destroyed in the earthquake; a piece of land, whose houses have now been destroyed the earthquake, towards the north, by the city walls; and a house, similar in form to tower, which stood on the street, but has now been destroyed in the earthquake" - Marsilio Zorzi discussing damage in Tyre "The funds ordered from Cisteaux were taken overseas. Never before have they come to such a good conclusion as by master Foque had at Cisteaux, because there had been earthquakes [in the Holy Land]. If the walls of Tyre and Acre were to be rebuilt, it should be done with [some of] those funds." - History of Heraclius (also known as The Eracles or Estoire d’Eracles) "there was also an earthquake and it destroyed many buildings and high walls in Damascus, and Emesa, and Hamath, and Tripoli, and Tyre, and 'Akko, and Shamrin (Samaria)" - Bar Hebraeus "The walls of Tyre were torn down." - Abu'l-Fida "Likewise Akka and Tyre were destroyed, along with the fortresses of the coast" - Ibn al-Dawādārī "And Sur [Tyre] was destroyed" - Ibn al-Wardi "In the year 1202, an earthquake devastated Acre, Sur (Tyre), Gibelet, and Archis, and part of Tripoli; and many Christian and Saracen towns." - Annales de Terre Sainte	VIII+ VIII+

This evidence requires a minimum Intensity of VIII (8) when using the Earthquake Archeological Effects chart of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224).

1837 CE Safed Quake

Earthquake Archeological

Earthquake Archeological Effects Chart

Click on image to open in a new tab

Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013)

Effects from Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224)

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description	Intensity
Collapsed Walls Casualties (due to collapsed walls) Ruins/Debris (from collapsed walls) People sleeping out of doors after the earthquake	Tyre		"Tyre Slightly injured" - The Times (London) "In this place [Tyre] the destruction is far greater. We rode into town last night over the prostrate wall. The road was nearly blocked up with ruins, and every where the wind, now blowing almost a hurricane, growled through shattered walls and broken windows; while half suspended shutters and unclosed doors were creaking, clattering, and banging in dreadful 'confusion. My horse absolutely refused to enter the frightful place, until I descended, and quieting her fears, led her into town. 15. Spent this morning in prayer and reading the Scriptures, after which we took a survey of the place, gave medicine to the wounded; and although it was the Lord's day, we proposed to leave for Safet. The accounts from that place are so distressing as to leave no doubt on our minds that it is a work of mercy to hasten to the relief of the sufferers, even by traveling on this sacred day. Tyre is considered by the inhabitants as nearly ruined, and not even the best houses will be habitable without tearing down and rebuilding a large part of what remains. Twelve persons were killed at the time of the earthquake and thirty wounded." - William McClure Thomson's article in the Missionary Herald "many houses were thrown down in Tyre and Sidon, and several were cracked and injured" - Edward Robinson "In Sidon the work of destruction became very noticeable, and in Tyre still more so. We rode into the latter at midnight over her prostrate walls, and found some of the streets so choked up with fallen houses that we could not pass through them. I shall retain a vivid recollection of that dismal night while life lasts. The wind had risen to a cold, cross gale, which howled through shattered walls and broken windows its doleful wail over ruined Tyre. The people were sleeping in boats drawn up on shore, and in tents beside them, while half-suspended shutters and doors unhinged were creaking and tinging in dreadful concert." - William McClure Thomson in his Book 'The Land and the Book'	VIII+ VIII+ VIII+ ?

This evidence requires a minimum Intensity of VIII (8) when using the Earthquake Archeological Effects chart of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224).

References

Articles and Books

Fleming, W. B. (1915). The History of Tyre, New York: AMS Press. – open access at archive.org

Gatier, P. L., et al. (2011). Mission archéologique de Tyr: Rapport préliminaire 2008–2009, BAAL 14: 103–129.

Katzenstein, H. J. (1973). The History of Tyre: From the Beginning of the Second Millennium BCE until the Fall of the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 538 BCE, Jerusalem.

Marriner, N., et al. (2005). Geoarchaeology of Tyre’s Ancient Northern Harbour, Phoenicia, Journal of Archaeological Science 32: 1302–1327.

Websites

Tyre – World History Encyclopedia

Tyre – Encyclopaedia Britannica

Bibliography from Meyers et al. (1997)

Bikai, P. M. (1978). The Pottery of Tyre, Warminster. Archaeological report on the principal excavation examining the pre-Hellenistic city.

Chehab, M. (1983–1986). Fouilles de Tyr: Ija Nécropole, Bulletin du Musée de Beyrouth 33–36, Paris. Final excavation reports on the Roman and Byzantine cemeteries.

Jidejian, N. (1969). Tyre Through the Ages, Beirut. Especially valuable for the Persian and Hellenistic periods, with extensive photographic documentation.

Joukowsky, M. S., ed. (1992). The Heritage of Tyre: Essays on the History, Archaeology, and Preservation of Tyre, Dubuque, Iowa.

Katzenstein, H. J. (1973). The History of Tyre: From the Beginning of the Second Millennium BCE until the Fall of the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 538 BCE, Jerusalem.

Katzenstein, H. J., and Edwards, D. (1992). Tyre. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary, vol. 6, pp. 686–692, New York.

Sader, H. (1991). Phoenician Stelae from Tyre, Berytus Archaeological Studies 39: 101–126.

Sader, H. (1992). Phoenician Stelae from Tyre (continued), Studi Epigrafici e Linguistici 9: 53–79.

Seeden, H. (1991). A tophet in Tyre?, Berytus Archaeological Studies 39: 39–82.

Wikipedia pages

Tyre

from Wikipedia

Siege of Tyre (332 BC) by Alexander the Great

from Wikipedia