Sidon
Saida · Zidon · Ṣaydā
Neolithic to present (c.4000 BCE–present; Bronze Age city from 3000 BCE)·Canaanite / Phoenician / Persian / Hellenistic / Roman / Crusader / Ottoman·🇱🇧 South Governorate, Lebanon
About
About Sidon
Third great Phoenician city-state, Sidon was famed for glassmaking, purple dye, and as mother-city of Tyre. Tell-like mound (College Site) contains Bronze and Iron Age strata, Temple of Eshmun (7th c BCE) in nearby Bustan el-Sheikh valley, and medieval Sea Castle on Phoenician island breakwater. Necropolis yielded Alexander Sarcophagus now in Istanbul. Excavations by British Museum since 1998 reveal Middle Bronze Age palace and ritual deposits.
Why it mattersKey sequence for Phoenician Bronze Age and Garstang/Dunand Eshmun sanctuary typology
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Location of Bronze Age harbour now 200 m inland
- 02Function of mass infant jar burials at College Site
Theories
- 01Sidon predated Tyre as leading Phoenician power until 12th c BCE Sea Peoples disruption
- 02Glass technology invented here spread to Egypt and Rome
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Early Bronze Age walled town c.3000–2800 BCE
- Period
- Neolithic to present (c.4000 BCE–present; Bronze Age city from 3000 BCE)
- Culture
- Canaanite / Phoenician / Persian / Hellenistic / Roman / Crusader / Ottoman
- Purpose
- Phoenician port and glass/purple production centre; cult center of Eshmun healing god
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
Early Bronze Age walled town c.3000–2800 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1128 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
33.5606° N · 35.3758° E · 10 m · 3 mapped features
Temple of Eshmun
templePhoenician healing god sanctuary with Babylonian-style podium and Roman additions, 2 km northeast of city
33.5869° N · 35.3983° ESidon Sea Castle
castle1228 Crusader fortress on Phoenician island mole connected by causeway
33.5649° N · 35.3705° ECollege Site (Tell Sidon)
tell18 m tell with Middle Bronze Age palace and Iron Age workshops
33.5590° N · 35.3745° E
Gallery