Siege of Tyre: What Happened
In 332 BC, Alexander the Great besieged Tyre, the richest city of the Phoenicians, located on an island about 800 meters off the coast of modern Lebanon. Alexander needed to capture the Phoenician ports to deny the Persian navy its bases before marching into Egypt. Tyre refused to let him enter, trusting in its strong walls and its position surrounded by the sea. Alexander responded with one of the most ambitious engineering projects of the ancient world. He ordered his army to build a causeway, or mole, across the water to the island, using stones and timber from the old mainland city. The Tyrians fought back with fire ships and attacks on the workers. The breakthrough came when Alexander assembled a large fleet from other Phoenician and Cypriot cities that had joined him. After about seven months, his forces broke through the walls and stormed the city. Thousands of defenders were killed, and about 30,000 inhabitants were sold into slavery. Sand gradually built up along the causeway, and Tyre remains joined to the mainland today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Siege of Tyre?
The Siege of Tyre, in 332 BC, was Alexander the Great's seven-month siege of the island city of Tyre, the richest city of the Phoenicians, in modern Lebanon.
Why did Alexander besiege Tyre?
Alexander needed to capture the Phoenician ports to deny the Persian navy its bases before marching into Egypt. Tyre refused to let him enter the city.
How did Alexander capture Tyre?
Alexander built a causeway across the sea to the island and assembled a large fleet from other Phoenician and Cypriot cities. His forces finally broke through the walls.
What happened to the people of Tyre?
Thousands of defenders were killed, and around 30,000 inhabitants were sold into slavery after the city fell, according to ancient accounts.
Is Tyre still an island?
No. Sand built up along Alexander's causeway over the centuries, permanently joining Tyre to the mainland. The city still exists today in southern Lebanon.
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