Tyre

Sennacherib (as crown prince) on a relief from the Khorsabad,
now in the Louvre.

Tyre (Phoenician רצ, ṣūr, "rock"; Greek Τúρος; Latin Tyrus): port in Phoenicia and one of the main cities in the eastern Mediterranean.

History

Photos

Texts

In the last quarter of the eighth century BCE, the Assyrian kings Šalmaneser V (r.726-722) and Sargon II (r.721-705) had expanded their empire to Israel. Samaria fell in 724 or 722. Although Menander of Ephesus mentions a (probably unsuccessful) siege of Tyre king Lulli managed to retain his independance, stayed outside further conflicts, and expanded his rule (or continied to rule) in Citium and in Sidon. In 701, the Assyrian king Sennacherib (r.705-681) decided to terminate Lulli's rule.

The translation of the Sennacherib Prism was made by Mordechai Cogan.

The Sennacherib Prism (ii.37-49)

In my third campaign, I marched against Hatti. The awesome splendor of my lordship overwhelmed Lulli. king of Sidon, and he fled overseas far-off. The terrifying nature of the weapon of Aššur, my lord, overwhelmed his strong cities, Greater Sidon, Lower Sidon, Bit-Zitti, Sarepta, Mahaliba, Old Tyre, Akzib, Acre, walled cities, provided with food and water for his garrisons, and they bowed in submission to my feet.

I installed Tuba'lu on the royal throne and imposed upon him tribute and dues for my lordship, payable annually without interruption.

Ancient-Warfare.com, the online home of Ancient Warfare magazine

[The text continues with a description of the siege of Lachish and Jerusalem; cf. 2 Kings 18-19.]

Comment

Note that only Old Tyre is captured. Tyre itself, situated on an island, was not taken. Lulli continued to rule over there. Something else: Tuba'lu paid an annual tribute - in other words, a normal system of taxation was introduced.