The question of the location of Tyra remained controversial for a long time 1 . Its final location was established by E. R. Stern 2 at the beginning of the 20th century, who discovered during excavations in 1900 and 1912. on the territory of the courtyards of the Akkerman fortress and the fortified area there is a thick layer of the ancient period. The excavations of Tyra were not systematic and were of an episodic nature. In 1918, 1927-1930. research was carried out by Romanian archaeologists 3 , in 1932, 1935, 1940 - by the scientist curator b. Akkerman Museum V. A. Shakhnazarov. After the Great Patriotic War, the Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR began systematic research on Tira. From 1945 to 1950 the work was carried out under the direction of L. D. Dmitrov 4 . In 1953, 1958-1960. these excavations were continued under the direction of the author 5 .

Literature devoted to the history of the city is small. The results of post-war excavations have not been published in full.

Founded on the right bank of the Dniester estuary, Tira occupied a very advantageous geographical position. Scientists determine the date of the emergence of Tyra differently. Some 8 - V. N. Yurgevich, E. Minnz, M. Ebert, E. Diehl 7 , P. Nikorescu attributed the emergence of Tyra to the 7th-6th centuries. BC e. ; others 8 - E. R. Stern, A. N. Zograf, L. D. Dmitrov 9 and V. D. Blavatsky 10 believe that Tyre as a city can be spoken of only from the 5th century. BC e.

1 I. A. Stempkovsky. Research on the location of ancient Greek settlements. St. Petersburg, 1826, pp. 21-23; P. W. Becker. Tiras and the Tirites. ZOOID, vol. II, 1848, pp. 418, 419: F.K. About the location of Tiras. ZOOID, vol. III, 1853, p. 49; his own. Chernomorye, part I. Odessa, 1879, pp. 3-13.
2 E. R. Stern. About the last excavations in Akkerman. ZOOID, vol. XXIII, 1901, pp. 33-61; his own. Excavations at Akkermann in the summer of 1912, ZOOID, vol. XXXI, 1913, pp. 92-101.
3 R. Nicorescu. Scavi e Scoperte a Tyras. "Ephemeris Dacoromana", II, 1924, p. 378-415; his own. Fouilles de Tyras. "Dacia", III-IV, 1933, p. 557-601.
4 L. D. Dmitrov. Bіlgorod-Dnistrovskaya archeological expedition. AP URSR, vol. II, 1949, pp. 39-52; his own. Excavations in the Bіlgorod-Dnistrovsky m. in 1947 AP URSR, vol. IV, 1952, pp. 59-64; his own. The main bags of the Izmail archeological expedition 1949-50 pp. AP URSR, vol. V, 1955, pp. 111-123.
5 A. I. Furmanska. Archaeological remembrances of Tiri, the first century of our land. "Archaeology", vol. X, 1957, pp. 80-93; A. I. Furmanskaya and E. V. Maksimov. Excavations in Belgorod-Dnestrovsky. KSIA AN UkrSSR, vol. 5, pp. 64-67; A.I. Furmanska. Excavations of Tiri in 1958 AP URSR, vol. XI, pp. 123-138.
6 T. D. Zlatkovskaya. About the initial period of the history of Tyra. CA, 1959, No. 2, p. 61.
7 E. Diehl. RE, s. v. Tyras, Stuttgart, 1860.
8 T. D. Zlatkovskaya. Decree. cit., p. 61.
9 L. D. Dmitrov. Tira. “Draw the long-standing history of the Ukrainian SSR”, Kiev, 1957, p. 271.
10 W. D. Blavatsky. The process of historical development of ancient states in the North

41

Information of ancient authors about Tyre is very scarce. According to Pseudo-Scimnos (vv. 798-803): “The river Tyra, deep and abundant in pastures, provides merchants with fish trade, and safe navigation for cargo ships. On the river lies the city of the same name, Tyre, founded by the Milesians.

The latter is confirmed by the fact that the inhabitants of Tyra used the Milesian calendar, preserved in the inscriptions from the villages of Chobruchi and Korotny and almost completely coinciding with the calendar of Miletus and its colonies 11 . Meanwhile, the foundation of the Milesian colonies on the western and northern coasts of the Black Sea dates back to the 7th-6th centuries. BC e., and by the end of the VI century. BC e. the process of colonization of these shores was basically completed. The appearance of large settlements on the banks of the Dniester estuary at that time is also confirmed by the excavations of the Roksolan settlement 12 . All this suggests that Tyra, like its closest neighbors - Olbia and Ist-ria, was founded no later than the 6th century. BC e., which, however, is not yet sufficiently confirmed by archaeological data. The finds of Ionian ceramics mentioned in the literature 13 and the handle of an Ionian jug of the 14th 6th century found in 1960. BC e. only indirectly confirm the probability of this date.

Excavation data and chance finds of coins, antique ceramics, sculpture monuments allow us to determine that in ancient times the city occupied an area of ​​over 20 hectares. The remains of ancient Tyra are located under the medieval Akkerman fortress, the fortified area and the streets closest to the fortress. The adjoining part of the city was destroyed both by the waters of the estuary and later structures. The acropolis occupied an elevated and protected place, where a medieval fortress was later built.

The necropolis of the city has not yet been discovered.

The location of the so-called Scythian grave and the grave near the village. Salgany 15 allows us to suggest that in the first centuries of our era the necropolis was located on the bank of the estuary, 1.5-2 km south-south-east of the city.

At the present stage of archaeological research in Tyra, it is still difficult to recreate the general socio-economic history of the city. In this work, we will try, on the basis of literary information and new archaeological material, to outline only in general terms the course of the historical development of the city.

The early stage of the city's history (VI-V centuries BC) is little known. Building remains of the VI-V centuries. BC e. not yet found. At present, we have only a few finds of things from the 6th - early 5th centuries. BC e. and a relatively large amount of material from the second half of the 5th c. BC e. These are predominantly black-glazed and red-figure Attic pottery, indicating the connections between Tyra and Athens, which were especially strengthened at the end of the 5th century BC. BC e. It is hardly necessary to explain the expansion of these ties with the results of the expedition of Pericles to Pontus and the inclusion of Tyre, alleged by some scholars, among the members of the Athenian Maritime Union. The latter is generally very doubtful.

Mr. Black Sea. Sat. "Problems of the history of the Northern Black Sea region in ancient times", M., 1959, pp. 13, 14.
11 V. N. Yurgevich. Opened in 1867 in the village. Chobruchi Greek inscription of the ancient city of Thira. ZOOID, vol. VI, 1867, p. 15. V. V. Latyshev. On the calendars of Olbia, Tyra and Tauric Chersonesos. "ΠΟΝΤΙΚΑ", St. Petersburg, 1909, pp. 25-40; F. Bilabel. Die ionische Colonisation. Leipzig, 1920, S. 70.
12 M. S. Sinitsyn. Roksolan settlement according to excavations in 1958-1960. Report read on March 18, 1961 at the Scientific session of the Odessa State University and the Odessa State archaeological museum, dedicated to the results of field archaeological research in 1960
13 E. R. Stern. Excavations at Akkermann in the summer of 1912, ZOOID, XXXI, p. 100; R. Nicorescu. Scavi e Scoperte..., r. 383-384.
14 Funds of the Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, inv. No. 328.
15 L. D. Dmitrov. The main bags of the Izmail archeological expedition 1949-50 pp. page 117.

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It is not easy to shed light on the nature of the Tiran economy at this stage, since clothing material is almost completely absent. One can only agree with T. D. Zlatkovskaya's 16 assumption about the agricultural nature of the economy of Tira in early times and the opinion of A. N. Zograf that the economy of Tyra "as an established urban organism, was built mainly on agriculture and grain trade" 17 . Indeed, the typology of the early coins of Tyra with the image of Demeter, an ear, wreaths of ears testifies to the development of agriculture, the images of a bridled horse and a bull indicate the importance of cattle breeding. Taking into account the location of Tyra between Olbia and the western Pontic cities, whose mutual relations through coastal navigation are confirmed by a number of monuments, it seems possible to assume that intermediary trade also played a certain role in the city's economy at this early stage.

Of great interest is the question of the relationship between Tyra and the population of the Dniester region. The results of the excavations allow us to state that by the time the Greek settlers appeared, the middle and partially upper Dniester region was inhabited by a settled agricultural population. Local settlements of the 7th-6th centuries. BC e. on the Lower Dniester we do not know. The picture of the settlement of tribes in this part of the Black Sea region becomes clearer only from the 4th century. BC e. In the study of the settlements of the Middle Dniester region, no monuments of ancient culture of the early period were found until recently. And only recently, in 1958-1960. during excavations of an agricultural settlement near the village. Ivan Pustya Melnitsa, Podolsky district, Ternopil region, O. D. Ganina found no a large number of fragments of amphoras of the second half of the 6th - early 5th centuries. BC e. It is also necessary to take into account individual finds of ancient material from the burial mounds of Western Podolia 18 and the south of Moldavia 19 .

If at this early stage, in terms of size and population, Tyra was a city less significant than its closest neighbors Olbia and Istria, then, undoubtedly, the initial stage of its history prepared the flourishing of the economy and culture of the city at the subsequent, second stage of its development (V- III centuries BC). Excavations of recent years make it possible to trace the growth of the urban area from the end of the 5th to the beginning of the 4th century BC. BC e. The cellars of buildings of the 4th century BC opened on the fortress square. BC e. testify to the inclusion of this area in the city in the V-IV centuries. BC e. The city was located in a terrace-like manner, and the transverse streets ran along the estuary, and the longitudinal ones - perpendicularly. On this square in the IV century BC. e. were public buildings. The plans of the basement floors of the buildings of the same type, separated by a small alley (1.60 m wide), the large dimensions of the premises themselves make it possible to consider them as public buildings. Construction in Tyre, as well as in Olbia, is characterized by the construction of basement floors. The walls of the basements were built on a leveled rock, and special pits were cut down in the mainland, to the walls of which the rubble masonry of the basements, lined with slabs from the inside, closely adjoined. The slabs are laid on clay mortar, almost dry. The walls of these rooms are distinguished by their monumentality (the thickness of the outer walls is 0.80 m, and the inner ones - more than 1.0 m) and the thoroughness of the square masonry of well-hewn rectangular slabs.

Epigraphic monuments of this time allow us to judge the state system, economic ties and cultural life of the city.

Inscription of the end of the 4th-3rd centuries. BC e. 20 is a decree of the council and the people

16 T. D. Zlatkovskaya. Decree. cit., p. 66 ff.
17 A. N. Zograf. Antique coins. MIA, No. 16, M., 1949, p. 111.
18 T. Sulimirski, Scytowie na Zachodniem Podolu. Lwow, 1936, str. 119.
19 A. I. Melyukova. Monuments of the Scythian time of the forest-steppe middle Dniester region. MIA, No. 64, M., 1958, p. 90.
20 P. O. Karyshkovsky. Materials for the collection of ancient inscriptions of Sarmatia and Taurida. VDI, 1959, No. 4, p. 112.

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meeting on awarding a golden wreath to a certain citizen of Tyre, followed by crowning him during all the festivities together with other "benefactors" for valor and benevolence towards the people. Along with the council and the people, the college of archons and the agonothetes, i.e., the authorities and officials common to the Greek polis, are also mentioned. This inscription, along with another honorary inscription of the late III-II centuries. BC e. 21 testifies to the further growth of property inequality, to the allocation of wealthy citizens who have rendered "good deeds" to the city.

By the second half of the 4th c. BC e. The beginning of the minting of the own coin of the city of Tyra dates back to the 17th century. Unlike Olbia, but like most other cities of the Black Sea region, the first coins of Tyre are minted from silver 22 . By the end of III - beginning of II century. BC e. gold staters of the Lysimakh type appear, which, according to A.N. trade relations. This assumption of A. N. Zograf is fully confirmed by the mentioned inscription, which testifies to the connections of Tyra with Olbia, Cyzicus and Rhodes.

Agriculture is still the backbone of the city's economy. By this time, the majority of settlements appeared on the territory adjacent to the city: near the present village. Peremoyashoe, near the village. Shvdenne-Saria, Semyonovka. A number of settlements appear to the south of Tyra near the village. Shabo, Budaki and other places. Based on intelligence materials from the Odessa Museum 24 , the settlements on the western bank of the Dniester Estuary date back to the 4th-2nd centuries. BC e.; Of these, the settlement near st. Bugaz (Zatoka). Settlement IV-II centuries. BC e. was also found near a stone quarry, between Belgorod-Dnestrovsky and with. Salgany. Antique pottery is found along the entire coast of the estuary. The appearance of these settlements testifies to the expansion of the agricultural district of the city, the increased development of agriculture and, perhaps, even its specialization.

A number of data testify to the development of various crafts. In the pre-war years near the suburb of Peremozhny, ceramic kilns were discovered, and amphoras with the mark ΔΙΟΝΥΣΙΟ[Υ] on the handles were found in them. In a small number found molds for making terracotta.

Single casting molds, copper and iron slags indicate the development of metalworking craft. The finds of whorls testify to the weaving craft. The wide scope of urban construction suggests the existence of local masons and builders.

As we noted above, by the end of the VI - the beginning of the V century. BC e. the beginning of economic relations between Tyra and the population of the Dniester region should be attributed. Treasure of metal objects V-IV centuries. BC e. (helmets, knemids, lamps), found in Olonesti, near st. Bessarabian (kept in a museum in Chisinau), probably came here also through Tira, like earlier items. In IV-III centuries. BC e. these connections become more regular and intense. Antique pottery appears in the settlements (for example, in the Saharny settlement, in the settlements near the villages of Vykhvatintsy, Golerkany) 25 . On Butuchensky ancient settlement, Orhei district, in a settlement near this ancient settlement 26 and near the village. Roksolana, located on the opposite bank, almost opposite Tyra, found coins of Tyra of the 4th-3rd centuries. BC e. 27

21 A. I. Furmanskaya. A new epigraphic monument from Tyre. SA, 1960, No. 4, pp. 173-179.
22 A. N. Zograf. Coins of Tyra, pp. 19-26.
23 Ibid., p. 27.
24 I. B. Kleiman, K. I. Revenko. Archaeological guarding on the western birch of the Dnistrovsky estuary. MAPP, in. II, Odessa, 1959, p. 118.
25 A. I. Melyukova. Decree. cit., p. 95 ff.
26 In 1959 L. L. Polevoy kindly informed us about the finds of these coins.
27 A. G. Salnikov. Before the information about the trading posts of the ancient settlements on the banks of the Dnistrovsky estuary from Greece in the VI-II centuries. BC e. MAPP, c. III, Odessa, 1960, p. 31.

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Among the coins of Istria, Olbia, Chersonesos, Panticapaeum, found in the Kamensky settlement, there was also a coin of Tyra from the second half of the 4th century BC. BC e. 28

The growth of the agricultural district of the city and the established regular ties with the population of the Middle Dniester region provided an economic basis for the development of Tira's broad ties. Tyra continued to trade with Athens. At the end of the 5th and during the 4th c. BC e. Tire receives red-figure and black-glazed ware; and in the III century. BC e. Attic imports are supplanted by vessels ornamented with liquefied yellow clay and white paint on a dark background, which were made in the cities of Asia Minor. Tira traded with Thasos, Heraclea, Sinope, Rhodes, Cyzicus, Cnidus, Olbia, Chersonese and, apparently, with the cities of the Bosporus, where silver coins of Tyra were found 29 ; in addition, single fragments of Bosporan tiles were found in Tyre. The quantity of Thasian imports in Tire and the settlements adjoining it is not very great; It dates from the 4th-3rd centuries. BC e. 30 The importation of Heraclean amphoras dates back to the same time.

The Chersonesos hallmarks in Tyre belong mainly to the 3rd century BC. BC e. Imports of Sinop roof tiles, architectural details and amphorae date mainly from the 4th-2nd centuries. BC e., and imports from Rhodes, exceeding imports from other centers, - III-II centuries. BC e. Many were found in Tire and wheel-shaped stamps of unknown origin.

Coins of Istria, Olbia, Vol. Coins of Tira IV-III centuries. BC e. found in Chersonese. Inscription of the late III - early II century. BC e. from Tyra testifies that at the end of the stage under consideration, Tira was directly connected with Cyzicus; the narrowing of its economic ties begins, apparently, at the beginning or even in the middle of the 2nd century. BC e.

The dating of the Kos stamps found in Tire has not been precisely established; according to E. M. Shtaerman, Tyra maintained close ties with Kos in all periods of antiquity 31 , however, the number of Kos brands in Tyre is small and, judging by the brands, Tyra’s connections with Kos date mainly to the time of late Hellenism (2nd century BC). . e.).

The culture of Tyra of this time can be judged by urban construction, terracotta products, a single monument of sculpture and coins.

Images on coins 32 and individual epigraphic monuments of this time allow us to conclude that certain cults were spread. Of the ancient deities on the coins of Tyra, images of Demeter are most often found. Often there are also images of Apollo, Dionysus, Hercules. The existence of the cult of Apollo the physician in Tyre is evidenced by an inscription from the 3rd century BC. BC e. - dedication to Apollo the doctor 33 . Coins of Tyra were also found in the main centers of the cult of Achilles Pontarch 34 (on the island of Lovka and Tendra). Late Hellenistic coins testify to the spread of the cults of Asclepius and Hermes in the city. Found in Tire and herm Priapus 35 - the patron saint of viticulture and horticulture.

The excavation data and numismatic materials of the last two centuries BC, preceding the invasion of the Getae, reflect the gradual increase in the economic crisis of Tyra.

In the II century. BC e. there are reconstructions of dilapidated buildings; in this case, the remains of old walls are used, to which new ones are attached. Rebuild-

28 B. N. Grakov. Kamenskoye settlement on the Dnieper. MIA, No. 36, M., 1954, p. 146, tab. VIII, 6.
29 A. N. Zograf. Coins of Tyra, page 57.
30 Excavations by A. G. Salnikov at the settlement near the village of Schwdenne-Saria in 1960
31 E. M. Shtaerman. Decree. cit., p. 44.
32 A. N. Zograf. Coins of Tyra, pp. 44 sl.
33 P. O. Karyshkovsky. Materials for the collection of ancient inscriptions..., p. 116.
34 A. N. Zograf. Findings of coins in the places of alleged ancient sanctuaries on the Black Sea coast. CA, VII, 1941, p. 153.
35 R. Nicorescu. Scavi e Scoperte..., r. 382, fig. 7.

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cellars are also being built. The masonry of the walls is careless and consists of poorly processed stones of various sizes. The horizontality of the rows of masonry in some places is not maintained. Small rubble stone, and sometimes pieces of marble, are also wedged between large slabs. The deterioration of the masonry technique should also be explained by the fact that the masonry itself was not given much importance: the walls of rich houses were covered with painted plaster. Excavations in 1960 opened the premises of a rich house. On its floor there is a collapse of the roof, consisting mainly of Sinop tiles of the 3rd-2nd centuries. and single copies as early as the 4th c. BC e., under them lay pieces of painted plaster with ornaments: floral and zoomorphic. On some fragments, the painting reproduces the pattern of marble with veins; others are covered in dark paint. A similar wall painting was discovered in Olbia in 1960. A similar wall painting is known in Pergamum, Priene, Delos, Alexandria in the 3rd-2nd centuries, Bosporus (Pantikapeia, Phanagoria) 36 and corresponds to the so-called second Pompeian style.

In recent years, cellars with amphorae dug into them have been discovered and numerous fragments of amphoras of the Late Hellenistic period have been collected. Rhodians predominate, less Sinopian; although Sinop tiles prevail among the imported tiles, there are also fragments of Kos amphoras. The latter were found together with fragments of light-clay and red-clay amphoras with double-barreled handles from the centers of the Southern Black Sea region. The composition of ceramics is dominated by fragments of black-glazed and burolak painted Asia Minor vessels, "Megar" bowls and vessels of Olbian production.

In the middle of the II century. BC e. Tyra's circle of external relations narrows. Nevertheless, the decree of the city of Tomy II-I centuries still dates back to this time. BC e. in honor of the citizen of Tyra Nile, testifying to the ties between Olbia and Tom and the intermediary role of Tyra in the trade of these cities. In the ruined buildings of the Late Hellenistic period, there are coins of the city of Amis and Tyra of the Mithridates period (120-63 BC). The typology of one of the series of coins of Tira of this time, as noted by A. N. Zograf, coincides with the typology of groups of coins of the last Mithridatic coinage of Panticapaeum 37 . This circumstance, together with the mentioned finds in Tire of Amis coins of the same time, may indicate the subordination of Tire to Mithridates VI Eupator. Along with the reduction of trade relations, the materials of this time reflect the presence of local handicraft production in Tyre. Thus, among the fragments of ceramics, one can distinguish locally produced vessels made according to the Late Hellenistic type: spherical bowls, two-handled jugs, with the use of burnishing in surface treatment. Copper and iron slags and isolated metal objects are found in small quantities.

A figurine made from the horn of a noble deer, which was found in the Dniester region, depicting a woman in a local pointed headdress, indicates the presence of local carvers in the city.

Particularly noteworthy in the late Hellenistic complexes is the abundance of stucco ceramics of Getic forms: Dacian vases, one-handled mugs, bowls with almost black or grayish-brown polishing, while early stucco ceramics of the late 6th -5th centuries. BC e., close to the Scythian forms, very little has been found. The appearance of the Geta forms of pottery, close to those found in the settlements of the Dniester region, dates back to the 4th-3rd centuries. BC e. Similar forms of vessels are known in Olbia, on Kozyrka (Getian circles), in the settlements of the Lower Dnieper in Zolotoy Balka, Gavrilovna, and even in the settlements of the Middle Dnieper region. Modeled ceramics from Tyra are closest to the ceramics of the Podutsavye settlements.

38 AJ, p. 119, sl., tab. XXXVIII - XLI; V. D. Blavatsky, Phanagoria wall painting. MIA, No. 57, M., 1957, p. 168 ff.
37 A. N. Zograf. Coins of Tyra, page 30.

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If the decline in trade, the reduction of trade relations, the cessation of life in all nearby settlements testify to the economic crisis experienced by the city from the middle or from the second half of the 2nd century BC. BC e., then destroyed and not restored buildings, the backfill of which is dominated by materials of the II-I centuries. BC e., point to the particularly difficult times experienced by the city during this period. The crisis of the city was connected with the general crisis of the Hellenistic world. Two decades after the defeat of Mithridates VI Eupator, Tyre, like Olbia, was attacked by the Getae. The destruction of Tyra by the Getae around the middle of the 1st c. BC e. the first period of its history ends.

The history of Tyre in the following centuries is characterized by the political, economic and cultural influence of Rome. Judging by the excavations of recent years (1958-1960), the city recovered relatively quickly after the invasion of the Getae. Ceramic material - amphorae of the turn of our era, fragments of vessels of the terra nigra, terra sigillata type with hallmarks of the first half of the 1st century BC. n. e. Asia Minor and Gallic workshops, similar to those found in Olbia, allow us to talk about the rapid restoration of urban life at the beginning of our era. The restoration of the city begins with the redevelopment of the urban area. The ruined buildings of the Hellenistic time on the first terrace are filled up. A thick layer of backfill (about 3 m) underlies residential and commercial buildings of the Roman period. The excavated dwelling houses, outbuildings, street, drains give an idea of ​​the city's planning, landscaping and housing construction.

Rich houses of this time consist of five or six rooms and one or two courtyards. The average size of buildings is about 120 square meters. m. In plan, they represent a rectangle elongated from north to south, the long walls of which at the same time were the retaining walls of the terraces. The dimensions of the premises are 15-25 square meters. m, yards - 11-20 sq. m. The premises were not connected with each other, and had access to the courtyard, and from there to the street. Yards are most often paved with flat stone, occasionally the pavement was repaired with fragments of amphorae walls. In the yards, stone cisterns with gutters were built to collect rainwater and drains connected to street sewers.

The laying of the walls testifies to the decline of stone-cutting and construction. The walls are built on clay from raw stones of various sizes. The foundations of the walls are made of large stone slabs, selected from the ruined buildings of an earlier time. The floors are earthen, the roofs are gable, tiled. As in the buildings of the Hellenistic period, rebuildings are observed here, and often redevelopments (a home altar was found in one of the rooms of the western building). Found in clay bedding under the building of the II-III centuries. n. e. Hadrian's coins allow us to assume that such a restructuring was carried out in the 20-40s. 2nd century n. e. There is a gradual deterioration in the technique of masonry walls.

Well preserved street II-III centuries. n. e., paved with large rectangular slabs, along the edges of which small stones and even fragments of ceramics are laid. The length of the preserved part of the street is 27 m, the width is 2.5 m. Under the street there was a drain channel, the walls of which consisted of large vertically placed slabs, its bed was lined with the same slabs.

There are much more epigraphic monuments of Tyra in the first centuries of our era (37 inscriptions) in comparison with the previous period. Some inscriptions from Olbia and Chersonesos are also of interest for the history of Tyra, additionally highlighting the relationship of these cities with Tyra.

The decree in honor of Kokkei (AD 181 38) mentions the ordinary magistrates and city governments: archons, council and popular assembly. From another

38 IPE, I 2 , No. 2.

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document-inscription from the Short (201 AD 39) we learn about the actual restriction of the rights of city self-government by Rome. Confirming the old custom of exempting the urban community of Tirites from duties, the inscription says that newly admitted citizens will enjoy these privileges only if the governors of the province confirm their rights of citizenship by special decree. From these inscriptions it can be seen that the main positions were occupied by the rich Romanized part of the Greek population and the Romans. The secretary of the council (boule) in 181 was the Roman Valerius Rufus, the eponymous archon in 201 was the Roman P. Aelius Calpurnius.

The inscription from Korotnoye, like another poorly preserved inscription from the beginning of the 3rd c. n. e., found in Tyre itself 40, is a message from the Roman governor of the province, which refers to merchant ships, duties, and overprints on coins; "Barbarians" are also mentioned. These inscriptions are important in assessing the importance of trade in the city's economy in the 2nd-3rd centuries. and. e. In addition, they testify to the attention paid by Rome to the coastal Greek cities, including Tire, which economically and strategically played an important role in the foreign policy of the Roman Empire, in its expansion to the East, which began from the time of Nero. These cities served as strongholds on the borders of the empire in the fight against the barbarian tribes advancing from the East. The inclusion of Tira in the sphere of political influence of Rome is confirmed by coin finds 41 .

It should, however, be recognized that the established political relationship with Rome favored the restoration of the life of the city at the beginning of our era.

57 AD e., as can be seen from the above inscriptions, is considered the first year of the new chronology of Tyre. After the Crimean expedition of Plautius Silvanus, Tyra's dependence on Rome intensified. During the reign of Domitian in Tyre, the regular minting of copper coins resumed, which in appearance did not differ from the usual coin of the cities that were part of the Roman Empire. The imperial coinage of Tyre continued with occasional interruptions until the reign of Severus Alexander.

A number of Latin inscriptions from the beginning of the 2nd c. n. e. from Tira and the hallmarks on the tiles confirm the presence in the city of the Roman garrisons of parts of the I Italic, XI Claudian and V Macedonian legions 42, long before its inclusion in the Roman province of Lower Moesia. A papyrus dated towards the end of Trajan's reign indicates that two horsemen of cohort I Hispanorum Veterana were sent to Tire as part of the Roman garrison stationed in the city. However, the city is described as lying outside the province (extra provinciam). Thus, Tyra formally remained an independent city for a long time and was included in the province only under Antoninus Pius, which is confirmed by both the inscription from Korotny and the coins of Tyra 44 . As part of the province, it remained until the end of the reign of the North, when the Roman garrison was withdrawn from the city.

2nd century and the first decades of the 3rd c. n. e. characterized by a new short flowering of the city's economy. Trade, apparently, occupies a significant place, and not only intermediary between the Western Pontic cities and Olbia, but h with the population of the Dniester region. The economic ties of the Western Pontic cities with Olbia and the role of Tyra in strengthening these ties are evidenced by the Olbian decree of the 2nd - early 3rd century. n. e. in honor of Theokles, son of Satpra 45, and numismatically

39 Ibid., No. 4.
40 P. Nicorescu. Scavi e Scoperte..., p. 394-396; P. O. Karyshkovsky. Materials for the collection of ancient inscriptions..., p. 115.
41 A. N. Zograf. Coins of Tyra, page 31.
42 E. V. Maksimov. A new monument from the first centuries of our era in Tyre. KSI A AN UkrSSR, 5, 1955, pp. 80-82.
43 G. Cantacuzene. Un papyrus latin relatif â la defense du Bas Danube. Revue historique du Sud-Est européen, V, nos. 1-3, 1928, p. 38 s.
44 A. H. Zograf. Coins of Tyra, page 15.
45 IPE, I 2 , No. 40.

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our finds. In Tyre, there are Olbian coins of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd centuries. n. e. The significance of Tyra as an intermediary trading point and the existence of a land route for the first century AD are confirmed by the well-known itinerary 46 (roadway), inscribed with paints on a warrior's leather shield found in Dura - Europos. It marked the crossing over the Danube, then the road through Tyra to Olbia and Chersonese.

The connection with Chersonesus is evidenced by a coin of Chersonesus found in Tyre, III century BC. n. e. 47 and a fragment of a marble slab from Chersonese with the inscription 51 [έν]/Τύρα τα [πόλει]; according to V. V. Latyshev, this is part of a decree drawn up in honor of a person who had something to do with Tire 48 . Another fragment of an inscription with a similar content was found in Chersonese after the war 49 . Some confirmation of these connections can also be found in the building of the 2nd - early 3rd century. n. e. red clay pots decorated with floral ornaments and with Greek inscriptions in white paint πεΐνε εύφραίνou , considered to be the products of the Chersonesos workshops 50 .

The connections of Tyra with the Western Pontic cities, in addition to the above-mentioned decree in honor of Theokles, are evidenced by the tombstone of a citizen of Tyra, found in Tomy or in ancient Odessa 51, and some features common to the coins of Tyra and these cities, for example, signs of value on coins. Along with goods from the Western Pontic cities, the coins of the Thracian kings also came to Tyra. The general picture of the external relations of Tyra in the first centuries of our era is supplemented by a rare coin found in Tire, according to the definition of P.O. The inscription of the 2nd century BC also speaks of the significant role of trade in the city's economy. n. e., found on the fortified area, that is, between the fortress and the estuary. It speaks of paying for the freight of certain goods delivered by the barbarians, and of some restrictions on foreigners 52 .

At the turn of the century and in the first centuries of our era, large quantities of Pergamon red-glazed ceramics (cups, dishes) and narrow-necked amphorae, which apparently originated from the centers of the southern Black Sea region, continued to arrive in Tira at the turn and in the first centuries of our era; many of them are branded and inscribed in red paint. A lot of such amphorae are also found in Olbia and Tanais, and there are also identical stamps. Cnidian red-glazed ware was also brought to Tyra. The connection with Egypt is indicated by an Alexandrian coin of the imperial time 53 , amulets, scarabs and other examples of small Egyptian plastic art. These finds can be compared with the dedicatory inscription found in Tire to Serapis and Isis 54 . On the basis of the Olbian Decree in honor of Theokles, it can be assumed that Tyra was connected with all the cities mentioned in this inscription in the first centuries of our era. The connections with Miletus in the first centuries of our era are evidenced by a tombstone found on the Athenian acropolis with the inscription: “Lafaya the Tirian, Hermeus the son of Eros, the Miletian.” 55

In monetary circulation, along with local copper, Roman silver denarii were in circulation; the earliest of them date back to the 30s of the 1st c. BC e.-

46 F. Cumont. Fragment de bouclier portant une liste d'etapes. "Syria", VI, 1925, p. 11 w.
47 E. R. Stern. Excavations at Ackerman in the summer of 1912, pp. 96-97. The coin was incorrectly dated to the 1st c. n. e.; dating was specified by V. A. Anokhin.
48 V. V. Latyshev. Greek and Latin inscriptions found in Southern Russia in 1901. IAC, c. 3, 1902, p. 23.
49 G. D. Belov, S. F. Strzheletsky, and A. L. Yakobson. Excavations in 1941, 1947 and 1948 MIA, No. 34, M.-L., 1953, p. 194. fig. 43; report by E. I. Solomonik at the Academic Council of the Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR in January 1960. The text of the inscription was restored by E. I. Solomonik.
50 Report of K.K. Kostsyushko-Valyuzhinich about his excavations in Chersonese. KLA for 1896. St. Petersburg, 1898, p. 187, fig. 567.
51 P. O. Karyshkovsky Materials for the collection of ancient inscriptions..., p. 120, no. 9 .
52 IPE, I 2 , No. 3.
53 A. N. Zograf. Coins of Tyra, page 60.
54 IPE, I 2 , No. 5.
55 P. O. Karyshkovsky. Materials for the collection of ancient inscriptions..., p. 121.

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coinage of Mark Antony for the Roman legions. Three hoards found in Tire include Roman silver coins and copper coins of the city's coinage. A hoard of the same composition was found in 1949 between Ovidiopol and Roksolany 56 . The presence in the hoards of coins minted for two and three centuries indicates that these coins did not go out of circulation for a long time. The number of Roman coins in the hoards is small (for example, in the hoard found in 1958, there are 31 silver denarii and 150 coins of Tira).

As in the previous period, in Roman times, the leading place in the economy of the city was occupied by arable farming and viticulture. This is still evidenced by the images on the coins, and especially the overmarks on the coins of Domitian and Severus Alexander in the form of an ear and a bunch of grapes. Materials of the study of settlements near the villages of Mologi and Chairy of the II-beginning of the III centuries. n. e. indicate the expansion of the agricultural district of the city at this time. In the city itself, in houses, grain graters and a large number of large amphoras, more than 1 m high and about 2 m in circumference, with burnt grains of wheat, millet and barley, are found. Fishing was also of great importance.

To characterize the handicraft production of the city, we have little material. In Tyre, one ceramic oven was found, fragments of defective amphorae are found. Copper and iron slags are found in the layer of this time. Few metal items were found: a small number of bronze brooches of the 2nd-3rd centuries. n. e., single fragments of mirrors of the Sarmatian type; from household items - copper keys, iron locks, braces, door handles, nails, knives; of the weapons - one iron spearhead. There are also articles made of bone: linings from knife handles, styles, needles.

There is every reason to believe that Tira was connected with the settlements of the Dniester region in the first centuries of our era. Not far from Tyra, near the village. Tudorovo discovered a number of settlements, where a large number of amphorae fragments were found. The researchers attribute the settlements to the monuments of the Chernyakhov culture. Red-glazed pottery was found in the Vokansky Sarmatian burial ground 57 . These are small one-handed and two-handed pots, no different from those produced in Tire. There are also light-clay narrow-necked amphoras in the Dniester region. All these products, found in the settlements of the Chernyakhov culture in the first centuries of our era, were brought there, undoubtedly, directly from Tyra.

Coins of Tira of Roman times indicate the veneration of the cults of Hercules and Dionysus - the main patron deities of the imperial house of the Severes. The cults of Cybele and Serapis are widely spread. Findings of coins of Tyra on Berezan, where in the first centuries of our era there was a sanctuary of Achilles Pontarchus, testify to the veneration of this deity in the city.

For the study of the culture of Tyra of this period, art objects found during excavations, mainly small sculptures, such as the herm of Dionysus, the figurine of Hygiene, part of the torso of Athena (?), a sculptural group - two female figures sitting in the pose of Cybele, a plate depicting Artemis the huntress . The last two finds have close analogies in the sites of the Western Black Sea region. The image of Artemis in rough work 58 on a marble slab resembles the reliefs depicting this goddess, found in Charax 59 in the alleged sanctuaries of the Thracian gods. Given the composition of the legions stationed in the city, you can

56 P. O. Karyshkovsky. Notes on numismatics of the ancient Black Sea region. VDI, 1960, No. 3, p. 134.
57 G. B. Fedorov. On the issue of Sarmatian culture in Moldova. “News of the Moldavian Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR”, Kishinev, 1956, p. 60.
58 P. Nicorescu. Scavi e Scoperte..., r. 393, fig. eight.
59 M. I. Rostovtsev. Sanctuary of the Thracian gods and inscriptions of beneficiaries in Ai-Todor. IAK, in. 40, St. Petersburg, 1911, pp. 1-42, tab. V, 13.

50

to think that such a sanctuary existed in Tyre. The figurine of a foot warrior, probably depicting one of the representatives of local tribes, is executed in the manner of late antique art and is distinguished by the wrong proportions of the human figure, schematization and primitive execution 60 .

The list of monuments of sculpture would be incomplete if we do not recall the large statue of a Roman legionary soldier of the 2nd century BC. n. e., found in the estuary before the revolution and stored in the Odessa Archaeological Museum.

The monuments of sculpture found in Tire testify to three trends in the art of Tyra in Roman times: the archaic Greek, local art of the Greek cities of the Northern and Northwestern Black Sea region and the strongly barbarized Late Antique art of the periphery of the ancient world.

As noted above, from the IV-III century. BC e. various forms of stucco ceramics of the Geta appearance appear on the territory of the city. The amount of this pottery increases towards the turn of our era. It seems to us that the spread of this pottery was associated with a change in the ethnic composition of the city's population, which occurred in connection with the movements of the tribes that inhabited the territory of the Northern and Northwestern Black Sea region. There is very little written evidence of these changes in Tire. Ovid, exiled to Toma, in his Tristia (V, 7, 10) depicts a picture of city life, perhaps with some exaggeration: “although Greeks and Getae are mixed on this coast, it nevertheless borrows more from the non-peaceful Getae. More of the Sarmatian and Getic people are moving up and down the streets on horseback.” An approximately similar picture could be observed, obviously, in Tyre, as in one of the cities closest to the Toms. In Tire, as in Olbia and other cities, the wealthy citizens were related to noble representatives of the tribes living near the city. On the tombstone already mentioned, found in Tomy or in ancient Odessa, the names of the parents who placed the tombstone for their son have been preserved. The name of the father is Aurelius Heraclid, the mother is Madagava. The name of the mother is non-Greek, B. N. Grakov finds it possible to attribute it to the number of Sarmatians 61 .

The idea of ethnic composition population of Tire in the first centuries of our era gives a decree in honor of Kokkei (181) 62 . It lists the names of four archons and seventeen witnesses. Most of them have Greek names. The names of Romanized Greeks make up more than a fourth of the names mentioned in the inscription. There are isolated non-Greek names; some of them are Thracian. However, the main, predominant part of the population was still Greeks.

Modeled ceramics of the first centuries of our era differs from the ceramics of the previous period. Its forms are close to Sarmatian dishes, and certain types, according to the definition of M.A. Tikhanova, are similar to the vessels found in the Upper Dniester region. The kitchen utensils are all molded. The use of this pottery, as well as the naturalization of the entire economy at the end of this period, are signs of the Russification of the city, observed in all cities of the Northern Black Sea region. Abundant traces of fires, traced during the excavations, testify to the hard fate that befell the city. Coins of the North of Alexander with countermarks found in excavated buildings indicate the time of the death of Tyra - the 40s of the 3rd century BC. n. e. Most likely, the city was destroyed by the Goths.

Thus, the ancient cities of the Northern Black Sea region, some earlier, others somewhat later, shared the common fate of the entire ancient world, which could not resist the onset of barbarian tribes. However, the economic ties of Tyra with the Geto-Thracian world could not but be reflected in the acceleration of the socio-economic development of the latter, in the strengthening of the process of class formation among them.

60 A. I. Furmanskaya. New monuments of sculpture from Tyra. KSIA, in. 10, 1960, pp. 78-83.
61 B. N. Grakov. Materials on the history of Scythia in the Greek inscriptions of the Balkan Peninsula and Asia Minor. VDI, 1939, No. 3, p. 312. This inscription was also republished by P. O. Karyshkov "k and m - Materials for a collection of ancient inscriptions ...", p. 120, No. 9. Variation in the name of the mother: The latest edition is probably a typo.
62 IPE, I 2 , No. 2.

Prepared by edition:

Antique City / USSR Academy of Sciences. Institute of Archeology. - M.: Publishing house of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 1963.

Tire is also important religious center, it was here that the first Christian communities appeared. The city is also mentioned in the Bible as one of the places where Jesus Christ visited, here he performed the first miracle. Since 1979, Tire has been under the protection of UNESCO as a city that is one of the world's treasures.

Now the old part of Tire is located on the peninsula, and the new one is on the mainland. There are few hotels in the city (about 2-3), but tourists have no problems with accommodation, there are enough places for everyone. Prices for hotel rooms are quite reasonable.

Tourists are mainly attracted by the ruins of Tire during the Roman Empire. The Roman road leading to the Arc de Triomphe, which in Roman times was the entrance to the city, has been perfectly preserved to this day. On both sides of the road, along the way, there are many sarcophagi carved from stone and marble. And one side of the road is accompanied by an aqueduct. In the 2nd century a hippodrome was built on the territory of Tire, the ruins of which are well preserved. An arts festival is held at the hippodrome every summer. During the time of the Roman Empire, the hippodrome accommodated 20,000 spectators, and its length is 480 meters.

In Tyre, it is also worth seeing the Palace of Eshmun, the Colosseum, two ports from the time of King Hiram, the ruins of the temple of the crusaders.

Perhaps the most colorful part of Tire is the fishing harbor: a quiet marina, an abundance of fishing boats, workshops where these same boats are made according to a technology that has not changed for several centuries. You can relax in one of the cafes or restaurants located in the harbour.

Walking from the fishing harbor towards the lighthouse, you will see the excavations of al-Mina. Be sure to take a walk here and get to know the city as it was many centuries ago. At the entrance there is a large trading square of the era of the Roman Empire, after passing through the square, on main street theater will appear before you. Once upon a time, water games were held here. The theater is a rectangular building, seating is arranged in five tiers, and a system of cisterns is placed around the theater. The theater is followed by a sports complex with baths, where wrestlers trained. Highly interesting place- Cathedral of the Holy Cross, built in the 12th century. Now the foundation of granite columns has remained from it, and earlier the cathedral was the place of coronation of the rulers of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. According to some reports, the remains of Frederick Barbarossa, the outstanding German emperor, are buried here. During the existence of Phenicia, on the site of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, there was a temple of the god Melkart, who was considered the patron saint of Tyre.

Every year Tire hosts a festival where folk performers from all over the Mediterranean perform. This festival is held on the ruins of a stadium from the time of the Roman Empire. If you want to learn more about the East, its culture, then you should definitely visit the Festival of Folk Performers in Tire.

Attractions around Thira

According to the Gospel of John, Jesus Christ performed his first great miracle, turning water into wine, at the wedding celebrations in Cana. There is still lively debate about where the biblical city of Cana was located, but the people of Lebanon are sure that a miracle happened in the town of Cana, located 10 km southeast of Tyre. Evidence of the miraculous transformation of drinks, of course, has not been preserved, but the main attraction of the village - Cana's cave - deserves attention. According to legend, it was here that Jesus spent the night before performing a miracle. On the way to the cave, pay attention to the ancient wall bas-reliefs carved into the rock, depicting the life of the Savior (The cave is allowed from 8 am to sunset, the entrance costs 4000 LBP for adults and 2000 LBP for children).

Continuing for another 18 km, you can reach the town of Tibnin to admire the 12th century Crusader castle built on a hill in the city center. In clear weather, breathtaking views of the fields, mountains and coastline open from the walls of the castle.

Nutrition

Fast food establishments "bunch" on the busy street of Abu Deeb. The ubiquitous falafel and shawarma are served here; the most popular eatery among locals is called Abu Deeb. For something more substantial, we recommend going to the Tanit restaurant near the fishing port. Their specialties are a huge amount of "meze", steaks and a bar with foreign spirits, beloved by NATO soldiers. Another nice option is called "Tiros" - there is delicious food at affordable prices, and live music sounds on Saturdays. For the purpose of dinner "with pomp" you have a direct road to the "Little Phoenician", which is in the old port - the local "trick" - delicious fish dishes and an open terrace above the old pier.

Accommodation

In Tire, it is especially not customary to stop at night - it is quite possible to see archaeological sites during daylight hours. However, for fans of the excavations, there are several options for accommodation, which are especially convenient if you decide to go to Sidon in the morning. The most pompous hotel bears the unpretentious name "Rest House" and offers spacious modern rooms, an excellent restaurant, a cozy bar, two outdoor pools and a private sandy beach for 140-170 USD (there are also "suites" for 400 USD). A simpler, but no less charming option is the Al-Fanar Hotel-Restaurant. A homely atmosphere reigns here, delicious traditional dishes are prepared and they are asked to pay democratic 70-90 USD per night.

Transport

Given the small size of Tire, it can be easily bypassed on foot. If by the end of the day you get tired of walking, a taxi is at your service. Meters have not been heard of in Tire since the time of Queen Elissa, so you should discuss the amount of payment with the driver before getting into a taxi.

How to get to Thira

The easiest way to get to Tire is by road from Beirut - there are buses, minibuses and minibuses on the route. fixed-route taxis"service". The bus ride will take from one to one and a half hours and will cost 3000 LBP; they leave every 15 minutes from 5 am to 9 pm from the Cola transport station in the Lebanese capital. Minibuses from Beirut "waddle" for one to two hours, depending on the driver's skills; the fare will cost 2000-3000 LBP. "Service" is the fastest way to get to Thira. Cars start off as soon as all places are filled; fare - 10-15 thousand LBP.

A trip to Tire can be combined with a visit to Sidon - buses run between the two cities, travel time is about 30-45 minutes, the journey will cost 1500 LBP.

Story

Tyr is the mother of the Phoenician peoples. There is a legend about the foundation of the city. The appearance of Tyr is associated with the Phoenician god Melqart, who was the son of the goddess Astarte. According to legend, it was at the birthplace of Melqart that the ancient Phoenician city was founded. The same legend reports that even before the appearance of the first settlement on the site of Tire, this small piece of land moved freely around mediterranean sea. Later, by order of Melkar, they found the place where he was born and sacrificed an eagle, when the blood of a majestic bird fell on the rocks of the island, the island stopped at a distance of about 800 meters from the coast. In the 28th century BC, the inhabitants of the town built a temple in honor of Melkart, in gratitude for this, he allowed the townspeople to colonize a fairly large section of the Mediterranean coast. In front of the entrance to the temple there were two columns of pure gold, each 9 meters high. They walked barefoot around the temple grounds, and daily there was a ritual of sacrifice, which was accompanied by dances.

In the 6th century BC, Tire was destroyed by the army of Nebuchadnezzar, but the conquerors did not achieve their goal, they wanted to get gold, jewelry, and most of the inhabitants managed to collect all their property with them and move to an island near Tyre. A new Tire was built there. The mainland, next to which these two islands were located, was for them protection from storms. In the 9th century BC. The islands were connected by an isthmus to the mainland by order of King Hiram, thereby forming an artificial cape. During the time of Alexander the Great, the isthmus was destroyed, and a pier was built in its place, which was much larger than the isthmus. Macedonian personally poured the first two buckets of sand into the base of the dam. All work on the construction of the dam was carried out manually. The trunks of cedars brought from the mountains of Lebanon were hammered into the bottom of the sea, for the full provision of building materials, the inhabitants were forced to demolish their houses. Thus, the island eventually turned into a peninsula. By the way, it is worth noting that Tire is the only city that did not surrender to Alexander the Great without a fight, the inhabitants preferred a bloody war to a humiliating peace and, as best they could, fought for the honor of their native city. Some details of the battles and examples of the heroic deeds of the inhabitants that have survived to this day are known. When the ships of Alexander the Great anchored, thereby blocking the harbor, the inhabitants of Tyre swam to them and cut the ropes of the anchors. After this incident, by order of Alexander the Great, the ropes on all ships were replaced with anchor chains. The siege lasted seven months, after which, nevertheless, Alexander the Great seized power in his own hands. A significant part of the population of Tyre was killed, and those who still managed to survive were soon sold into slavery. It was during the reign of Alexander the Great that the Lebanese cedar became a rare tree, this was due to the fact that Alexander, in addition to building a dam, also used cedar in the manufacture of ships, cedar forests were massively cut down. During Phoenician times, Tire was famous for its glass and textiles. The merchants of Tyre conducted a peaceful expansion of the Mediterranean in order to find sources of raw materials and markets for products. It was Tire that was the first city where they began to use money - minted coins. The influence of Phoenicia affected the development of the city. Tire developed quite quickly. From Tire began a number of sea expeditions in the Mediterranean, including to Spain and beyond Gibraltar. In the 18th century, the city became one of the most important suppliers of building materials throughout the Mediterranean coast. At different times, the city was dominated by different countries and rulers, experienced many events, in memory of which remained interesting monuments, temples, ruins and more.

And by the way, why Tire? The modern Arabic name of the city is Sur, but for some reason both in Russia and in the West it is called by the ancient Phoenician name, while in the case of Sidon, the modern Arabic name of Saida has taken root.
From Saida to Tire - 40 kilometers. A minibus (2,000 lire) covers this distance in an hour, along a coastal highway with a couple of roadblocks - the second one is already at the entrance to the city itself, with a propaganda poster depicting a recognizable uncle with a goatee and an inscription (in English), which he translated as "Uncle Sam, don't get carried away! :)

Tire in ancient times was one of the largest Phoenician policies, apparently, it arose in the 4th millennium BC. Natives of Tyre founded numerous colonies throughout the Mediterranean, including Carthage and Hades. At various times, the city was under the rule of Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Achaemenids, but retained autonomy. In 332 B.C. the city after a long siege was taken and destroyed by Alexander the Great. Then he was part of the powers of his successors, the Ptolemies and the Seleucids. In 64 B.C. became part of the Roman Empire, was the capital of the province of Phoenician Syria. In Byzantium, Tire was the center of the archbishopric. In 635, the Arabs conquered it and built a fleet here, with which they captured Cyprus. During the Crusades, Tire became a real symbol of resistance to the crusaders - they captured it only in 1124, after a couple of sieges. And they kept it until 1291. In modern Lebanon, Tire has the fate of a "frontier town". Now Tire is one of the strongholds of Hezbollah.

This is felt immediately - driving through the streets, hung with "Hezbol" flags (in the complete absence of Lebanese), portraits of Sheikh Nasrallah, his close associates, young heroes of the struggle against Zionism.

When you get off the minibus in the market, blocking the noise of the Arab bazaar, Hezbollah's military marches immediately hit your ears, coming from the speakers at the door of the shop selling the corresponding symbols. So, if in Lebanon you are interested in "Hezbol" exotics, then this is not in Baalbek, but in Tire.

Due to the abundance of Hezbollah, the Lebanese army in Tire is not as visible as in Beirut, Tripoli and Said - I saw only one armored personnel carrier. Much more often on the streets came across white UN jeeps with blue-helmeted peacekeepers of Hispanic appearance - they looked a little hunted :)

What else can you see in Tyre? The remains of the ancient city, which are even on the list world heritage UNESCO is included - completely undeservedly, in my opinion. They are presented in a pair of archaeological zones - Al-Bass and Al-Mina (entrance - 6 thousand lire each).

Such are the archaeological excavations with various obscure columns and piles of stones with tablets.

Tire itself is located on a peninsula jutting out into the Mediterranean Sea - so they are in Tyre from three sides at once.

At the entrance to the city, the minibus first stops at the Al-Bass roundabout, where most passengers get off. Nearby is the vast Palestinian camp of Al-Bass. It is not surrounded by any wall - just city blocks of a semi-slum type, decorated here and there with Palestinian flags and portraits of Arafat. Behind the camp is the archaeological zone of the same name.

Then the bus passes along a long embankment with heavy traffic - to the Al-Mina ring. This is where the local bass stand is located, combined with the bough. The local fresh shop makes the best juices in all of Lebanon - an orange in real Syrian large mugs cost 3,000 liras.
From the ring, go a little south - and there will be an archaeological zone of Al-Mina.

On the other hand, it seems like old quarters with mosques.

At the very end of the peninsula there are former Christian quarters with a lighthouse.

One of the most unusual prophecies in the Bible concerns the fate of the ancient city of Tyre. Not surprisingly, this example is used by almost all the books written in defense of Christianity. The reason for this will soon become clear to you. (592-570 BC):

The prophecies about Tire were fulfilled step by step with amazing accuracy. Taken together, biblical prophecy gives grounds to view history as one multifaceted process.

Tire was the center of the slave trade. Disgusting forms of idolatry, human sacrifices, and the burning of captives in honor of idols accompanied the feasts of the Tyrians. Old Tire (Paleothir) was located on the shore, and next to it, on the island, a new Tyre grew up. It was an impregnable fortress.

Book of Ezekiel 26 Chapter

3. ... Therefore, thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you. Tire, and I will raise up many peoples against you, as the sea raises its waves.
4. And they will break the walls of Tire and destroy its towers; and I will sweep his dust out of him, and make him a bare rock.
7. For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will bring Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, king of kings, against Tyre, from the north, with horses and chariots and horsemen and an army and a multitude of people.
8. He will beat your daughters on the ground with a sword and build siege towers against you, and he will build a rampart against you and put up shields against you ...
11 And they will plunder your wealth, and plunder your goods, and tear down your walls, and tear down your beautiful houses, and your stones, and your trees, and your earth will be thrown into the water.
14. And I will make you a bare rock; you will be a place for spreading nets; you will not be built up again, for I, the Lord, have said this, says the Lord God.
21. I will make you a terror, and you will not be, and they will seek you, but they will never find you, says the Lord God.

Predictions

1. Nebuchadnezzar will destroy the city of Tire located on the continent (26:8).
2. Many nations will go to war against Tire (26:3).
3. The city will become flat, bare rock (26:4).
4. In the place where the city was, the fishermen will spread their nets (26:5).
5. The remains of the city will be thrown into the water (26:12).
6. Tire will never be rebuilt (26:14).
7. He will never be found again (26:21).
The predictions we talked about earlier spoke for themselves. Such predictions may seem contradictory. Fortunately, history knows no contradictions. It only remains for us to consider the history of Tyre, and compare it with the prophecies of Ezekiel.

Execution

As a secular historian noted, "Ezekiel's anger, especially in verse 27:27, shows how significant ancient Tire was in the eyes of the prophet, and how varied and rich the trade of this city was."

Nebuchadnezzar

Nebuchadnezzar began the siege of Tire three years after the prophecy. The Encyclopædia Britannica notes that "after a siege of thirteen years (from 585 to 573 B.C.)

Nebuchadnezzar II of Tire made concessions and recognized the power of Babylon. In 538 B.C. together with the rest of Phoenicia, this city came under the rule of Persia, where the Achaemenid dynasty ruled. "When Nebuchadnezzar broke into the city, he found it almost empty. Most of the population crossed by ship to an island lying about a kilometer from the coast, and founded a new fortified city there .

Old Tire was destroyed in 573 (prediction 1), but Tire on the island remained a powerful city for several more centuries.

Alexander the Great

“In the course of his war with Persia,” writes the Encyclopædia Britannica, “Alexander III, having defeated Darius III at the Battle of Issus (333 BC), moved south to Egypt, urging the Phoenician cities to open

him his own gate. Alexander's general intent was to end the use of these cities by the Persian fleet. The citizens of Tyre refused to surrender, and then Alexander laid siege to that city.

Having no fleet, he destroyed the old Tyre, located on the continent, and from its fragments he built a dam 60 m wide across the strait that separated the old and new cities. At the far end of the dam, he erected towers and military vehicles "(Prediction 5). The ancient historian Curtius wrote that when building the dam, wood was used from Mount Lebanon (for beams), and earth and stones were taken from old Tire (Prediction 5).

From the writings of the Greek historian Arrian, we learn in detail how the difficult task of conquering Tyre was accomplished. This city was partly located on the continent, and partly on an island, where an exceptionally strong fortress was located. Taking the continental city, Nebuchadnezzar bypassed the island part of Tire. Alexander, according to Arrian, intended to take the whole city. The undertaking was difficult.

The island was completely surrounded by strong walls, reaching the very coastline. The inhabitants of Tyre, like the enemies of Alexander - the Persians under the leadership of Darius, controlled the sea, but this Greek commander decided to build an artificial spit that would reach the fortress. At first, the work progressed well, but as the dam was built, the depth of the sea grew, and the inhabitants of Tyre made more and more frequent sorties against the attackers.

Because of their high walls, they could cause considerable harm to the attackers, especially if you remember that the latter were prepared more for work than for war, and did not wear armor, but ordinary working clothes. The attacks of the inhabitants of Tire on the dam under construction seriously slowed down its construction. To counteract the besieged, Alexander built two watchtowers with soldiers on the dam.
After that, the inhabitants of Tyre made a very successful raid on the dam.

They set fire to the watchtowers with the help of special ships and landed numerous troops, driving the Greeks from the dam, causing it the maximum damage they could. Further, Arrian writes about naval battles. Realizing that he needed ships, Alexander demanded them from the conquered cities and regions. His fleet was thus formed; about 80 ships delivered Sidon, Arad and Byblos, 10 - Rhodes, 3 - Soli and Mallos, 10 - Lycia, one big ship- Macedonia, and 120 - Cyprus (Prediction2).

With such a powerful fleet, it was only a matter of time before Alexander conquered Tire with the help of an earthen dam. Despite interference from Darius, Alexander's adversary, the dam was eventually built, the walls of the city destroyed, and the city itself devastated. "A wide dam," writes Philip Myers, "connecting the shore with

an island that has survived to this day. When, after a seven-month siege, the city was taken, eight thousand inhabitants were killed, and thirty thousand were sold into slavery.
It is no wonder that the inhabitants of Tyre aroused such hatred of the Greeks.

The defenders of the city used all available methods - including not the most plausible ones. "The defense of Tire and its complete fall before the Greek conquerors is a very sad event," John C. Beck believes. Here is an interesting quote from a history textbook written by secular scholar Philip Myers: "Alexander the Great reduced Tire to ruins (332 BC).

The city to some extent recovered from this blow, but never again took the place in the world that before. Most of the place where this once lay great city, now looks like a bare rock (Prediction 3) - a place where fishermen, still numerous in those parts, spread their nets to dry "(Prediction 4). John Beck writes about the fall of Tyre in a historical perspective: "The history of Tyre did not stop after its conquest by Alexander. It was again rebuilt and again besieged until finally, after sixteen centuries, Tire was completely and irrevocably destroyed.

Antigonus

“Returning from the victorious wars in Babylonia,” writes Nina Djidejian, “Antigon easily conquered the Phoenician cities until he came across the stubborn resistance of Tyre. Eighteen years have passed since the conquest of this city by Alexander, and he managed to rapidly revive ... To conquer Tyre, Antigonus it took a fifteen-month siege." Simple arithmetic shows that these events took place in 314 BC. According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, King Ptolemy II (Philadelphus) reigned from 285 to 247 BC. Jidejian continues:

"When Ptolemy Philadelphus built the Berenicean harbor on the Red Sea, paved the road with villages and wells to Koptos and reopened the channel connecting the Pelusian branch of the Nile with the Gulf of Suez. Tyr was dealt a fatal blow. The ships belonging to Tire used to sail from the Red Sea and the Indian ocean through the port of Eloth to Rhinocolura in Phoenicia through Petra, and then to various ports of the Mediterranean. Now the sailors sailed through the canal to Alexandria, whither all the wealth that in the old days came to Tire was sent."

The researcher cites the story of the Persian traveler Nasir-i-Khusrav, who visited Tire in 1047 AD. "They built their city on a rock, in the sea, in such a way that the city government is located on the continent, on a stretch of about a hundred meters, while the rest rises directly from the water.

The walls are built of hewn stone, the seams are interlaced with resin so that water cannot penetrate through them. The area of ​​the city reaches a thousand square arshins, its caravanserais are built in five or six floors, towering over each other. The city has many fountains, its bazaars are clean, and its wealth is great. This city of Tire is generally famous among the Syrian ports for its wealth and power. Mashhad, a temple dedicated to the martyrs, was erected at the city gates, where you can see a great variety of carpets, hanging ornaments, lamps and lamps of gold and silver. The city itself is on a hill. Water comes into it from the mountain, through an aqueduct reaching the city gates.

Muslims

Since the city was once taken by the Muslims, the crusaders also fought for it, eventually capturing the island. During crusades it served as an important stronghold, but was still recaptured by the Muslims. Here is how the historian Joseph Michaud describes it: “Having taken and destroyed Ptolemaida, the Sultan sent one of his emirs with a detachment of troops to conquer Tire, and the city, seized with horror, opened its gates without resistance ... These cities, which did not give any help to Ptolemaida in a decisive battle, they believed that they were under the protection of a truce, but their population was killed, scattered, sold into slavery: the fury of the Muslims extended even to the stones of these cities, and it seemed that they

seek to destroy the very ground on which Christians have trodden. Their houses, temples, monuments, their economy and everything that is the pride of Christians - all this was destroyed along with the inhabitants with the help of fire and sword "(Prediction 6).

"In 690 (1291) the city was again taken by Muslims simultaneously with Acre and other coastal cities. Destroyed, it lies in ruins to this day," wrote the Arab historian Abulfiela in 1321.

Lestrange quotes another Arab historian, Ibn Batuta, who visited the ruins of Tire in 1355. “The power of this city, which was washed by the sea on three sides, has become a proverb. Now only ruins remain from the ancient walls and the port, and the chain blocking the mouth of the port has been preserved from the old days” (Prediction 6).

Pliny the Elder, whom we quote from Nina Djidejian, sums up the following: "Tyre ... once famous as the mother of the cities of Leptis, Utica, Carthage, the great rival of Rome in the struggle for world domination, as well as Cadiz, founded outside the inhabited world; but all the wealth and glory of Tyre now consists in lobsters and purple dye obtained from shells "(Prediction 7).

The current position of Tire

Ina Jidejian describes today's Tire (now Sur): "This port is still in use today. Small fishing boats anchor here. In the foundations of the former city, granite columns of Roman times are visible, which were used to strengthen the walls built by the crusaders. The port turned into a fishing harbor and a place where fishermen dry their nets."

"As the prophet predicted. Tire was supposed to turn into a place for drying fishing nets," writes another researcher. but the final fulfillment of prophecy.

Tyre, the king of the seas, the craft and commercial center of the world for centuries, perished, never to be reborn. Fishermen spreading their nets on the rocks that once served as the foundation of an ancient city, the last link in the chain of Ezekiel's prophecies made twenty-five centuries ago" (Prediction 4). such remote places like Acre and Beirut. And yet the evidence of his great past is very numerous.

Recent archeological excavations have unearthed several successive layers of this proud Phoenician port... The great ancient city of Tyre rests under layers of accumulated ruins. Only the remains of an aqueduct were found above the ground, several columns scattered throughout the territory, and the ruins of a Christian chapel ... Looking into the water, you can see massive granite columns and stone blocks scattered along the seabed. Until recently, there were almost no ruins of Tyre above ground level."

Specific Fulfillment of Prophecy

We have outlined the history of the ancient city of Tyre. Let's see how it relates to the specific predictions of Ezekiel.

1. Nebuchadnezzar did destroy the old (continental) city of Tire.

2. Many peoples went to war on Tire. “The peculiarity of the waves is that they come one after another, having a destructive effect due to successive continuous blows,” notes John Beck. “The prophecies of Ezekiel, therefore, should be understood as the prediction of a whole series of conquests over a long period of time.

In the light of such an interpretation, the content of Art. 4-6. First of all, "they will break the walls of Tyre, and destroy its towers" (conquest by Nebuchadnezzar). Then "and I will sweep away his ashes from him and make him a bare rock" (siege by Alexander the Great). And, finally, "it will be plundered by the peoples" (the story after the siege of Alexander the Great).

3. Alexander the Great, building his dam for the siege of the island fortress, destroyed the old Tire, turning it into a "bare rock".

4. The spreading of fishing nets on the site of old Tire has been repeatedly noted by researchers, including secular scientists and historians. "Pale turquoise fishing nets were drying on the shore..." - Nina Nelson writes about the trip to Tire. "It is unlikely that at least one stone of ancient Tire lies in its place," wrote Hans-Wolf Ruckle, "as the prophet predicted. Tire has become a place where fishermen dry their nets."

5. Building his dam, Alexander threw into the water what was left of the city. "The prophecy of Ezekiel concerning the 'stones, trees, and earth' of Tyre, which would be 'thrown into the water'," writes Joseph free, "was fulfilled exactly when the sappers of Alexander the Great were building a siege dam using the ruins of ancient Tyre, located on the mainland, as material. and placing them in the water." Nina Nelson in her Lebanon Guide notes that "the ruins of ancient Tyre are unique because they lie in the heart of the sea."

6. The city of Tyre will never be rebuilt. "You will not be built again," the prophet predicted. In his book Foundations of the Christian Faith, Floyd Hamilton emphasizes that other cities have been rebuilt more than once after conquest. “Jerusalem was not once destroyed, but every time it rose from the ruins. Nothing indicated that the city of Tire would not be restored.

And yet, twenty-five centuries ago, a Jewish prophet in his Babylonian exile looked at the command of the Lord into the future and inscribed the words "and you will not be rebuilt." The voice of God has sounded, and ancient Tyre, to this day, remains a bare rock, thrown by man! Anyone who wants to know the location of the former city will be shown to a stretch of coast where not a single section of the ruins has survived.

The city disappeared from the face of the earth and was never restored. "In the place of ancient Tire is Recelain, an abundant source of fresh water, which undoubtedly fed the ancient city in its time. This source is still there, and is just as plentiful, but the waters from it flow into the sea.According to the measurements of experts, the flow of fresh water reaches about 37 million liters per day.This amount is enough to supply even a large modern city- and yet Tire was never rebuilt, in other words, the prophecy of Ezekiel has not been violated for more than 2500 years.

7. The city will never be found. Most commentators agree that the real location of the destroyed Tire can no longer be established. It is probably more accurate to interpret these words in the sense that people will not look for the place where Tire was located, but for the return to the city of its former wealth and glory.

It is hard to believe in the impossibility of finding the ruins of a city that once occupied an entire island and was surrounded by walls that descended to the very water. Some people still do not accept the fulfillment of the prophecy that Tire will never be rebuilt, because in its place there is a fishing village. The existence of the village cannot be denied, but the prophecy itself should not be denied on this basis.

Indeed, if we remember it in its entirety, we find that Tire must become a place for growing fishing nets, which happened. To spread the nets, the owners of these nets, that is, the fishermen, are needed. They, in turn, need to live somewhere, and if they spread their nets on the site of the ancient city, according to the prophecy, then they are unlikely to build their village 10 kilometers from it - they will live where their nets are located.

When Tire was destroyed in 1291, it perished and was never rebuilt. The settlement that arose in its place resembled ancient Tire no more than, say, the city of Seattle or Vladivostok.

"I visited Sur on a summer afternoon," recalls Nina Nelson. "The city was sleepy, calm reigned over the harbor. Pale turquoise fishing nets were drying on the shore."

Hans-Wolf Rackl in "Underwater Archeology" notes that "it is unlikely that at least one stone of ancient Tyr lies in its place ... The settlers who appeared after the destruction of the city used its ruins to build their own huts. As the prophet predicted. Tyr turned to a place for drying fishing nets.

In Travels in Lebanon, Philip Ward admits that "Since then (1261) farming and fishing, two occupations of peaceful and modest people, have for the first time turned Tire into a backwater."

In his statistical analysis, Peter Stoner uses seven of Ezekiel's predictions, six of which coincide with those given in this chapter (1-6). “If the predictions of Ezekiel were once made on the basis of human wisdom,” the researcher writes, “then the probability of the implementation of all seven prophecies would be one chance in 75 million. Nevertheless, they all came true down to the smallest details.”

Tyr ancient Phoenician city state east coast Mediterranean Sea. Ancient city Tyr was formed in the 3rd millennium BC. Its founders were the Phoenicians. Now, at a distance of 20 kilometers from its outskirts, there is the border of Lebanon with Israel. Tire is believed to be the first Phoenician settlement. According to an old legend, the city was founded on the site where the god Melqart was born. According to ancient legend, before the settlement of the territory of present Tyre, there was a small island in its place, freely moving in the Mediterranean Sea. Over time, an eagle was sacrificed at the birthplace of the Phoenician god. After drops of blood fell on the island, he stopped his movement.

In the 28th century BC, a temple was erected in Tire in honor of Melqart. In front of the entrance were two columns made of gold. The height of each of them reached 9 meters. Every day in the halls of the temple, a ritual of sacrifice was performed, which was accompanied by dances. Only bare feet were allowed inside the premises. In the 6th century BC, the city was captured by the troops of Nebuchadnezzar in order to rob the ancient settlement. But the inhabitants of the city managed to escape to an island located near Tyre, where they built a new city under the same name.

In the 9th century BC, the island territories, by decree of King Hiram, were connected to the mainland by an isthmus. As a result, an artificial cape was formed. During the conquests of Alexander the Great, the isthmus was destroyed, replacing it with a pier. The great commander himself took part in its construction. It is known that the first two buckets of sand were filled by him into the base of the dam. All construction work was done by hand. Due to the lack of raw materials, the townspeople were forced to demolish their own housing. Over time, the island turned into a peninsula.

Tire - was the only city that did not voluntarily surrender to Alexander the Great. The townspeople steadfastly fought against the enemy who attacked them. The invaders were forced to attack the city for a long 7 months. After the capture of Tire, most of the townspeople were destroyed, the survivors were driven into slavery.

In the era of Alexander the Great, Tire was famous for its cedar, which was used to build a dam and ships. During Phoenician times, the city was famous for its glass and textile craftsmen. On its territory for the first time began to use minted coins. Over the entire period of its existence, Tire has repeatedly changed its rulers from different countries. Temples are witnesses of those events, historical monuments and ancient ruins of ancient buildings.

Based on archaeological and written sources, the monograph restores the history of Tyra, the social structure and culture of the city, its place among other ancient cities and its role in the life of the tribes of the North-Western Black Sea region for a millennium.

One of the most famous ancient Phoenician cities and one of the largest commercial centers of the Ancient World, the city of Tire was founded in the 28th century BC. This city is now known as Sur and is located in what is now Lebanon. According to Phoenician legend, the city of Tire was built by the navigator god Usos, who sailed on a log to the island on which he built an altar.

Mentions in ancient sources regarding Tire and its inhabitants can be found in the chronicles of Ancient Egypt, and in other important historical documents of Antiquity. Tire was originally an important port and trading city that traded with many countries in the region, including Ancient Egypt. Also, the vast majority of the Phoenician colonies in the western Mediterranean were colonies of Tyre (including Cadiz and Carthage).

The well-being of Tyr constantly aroused the envy of the rulers of powerful empires. ancient world, and as a result it was constantly besieged by Assyrian, Babylonian, Jewish, Persian and Egyptian armies. These constant wars and sieges led to the decline of Tyre's power in the region and the weakening of its power in the colonies.

During the period of the rise of Ancient Greece, Tire became an important educational and scientific center, retaining this status in the period ancient rome. Tire also entered the history of Christianity as one of the first Christian cities; Apostle Paul lived and preached here for a short period of time.

Sources: guide.travel.ru, tochka-na-karte.ru, www.bookarchive.ru, sredizemnomor.ru, interpretive.ru

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