Map Description

Historical Map of Tyre and Vicinity.

The Siege of Tyre, November 333 BC - August 332 BC

Illustrating

• Cyprian Fleet
• Phoenician Fleet
• Final assault and breakthrough
• Mole constructed by Alexander
• Main temple
• Sidonian Harbor
• Egyptian Harbor
• Mediterranean Sea
• Heavy Walls around entire island
• New Island City of Tyre
• Old City of Tyre

:: An approximate timeline of the siege of Tyre ::

November 333 BC

Alexander defeats Darius III at Battle of Issus

[?] Late 333 BC

Alexander begins southward march along Phoenician coast; Aradus, Byblos, and Sidon surrender to Alexander

Late 333 BC/Early 332 BC

Tyre offers symbolic submission with golden crown [?] but states to refuse both, Persians and Macedonians, entry to the city; rejects Alexander's request to sacrifice at Melqart temple, suggesting mainland alternative instead

January 332 BC

Siege begins; construction of mole/causeway starts

[?] Early 332 BC

First unsuccessful Macedonian assault attempts

[?] Spring 332 BC

Tyrians successfully attack and burn siege towers on the mole

[?] Mid 332 BC

Alexander gathers naval reinforcements from conquered Phoenician cities

[?] Mid 332 BC

Alexander completes naval blockade of Tyre

July 332 BC

Final successful assault with combined naval and land forces

July/August 332 BC

Fall of Tyre; city captured, many inhabitants killed or sold into slavery

[?] August 332 BC

Alexander performs sacrifice at Melqart temple

:: About the Cyprian Fleet ::

After Alexander realized he couldn't take Tyre with just land forces, he gathered a substantial naval force which included ships from recently surrendered Phoenician cities and from Cyprus.

Around 120 ships came from Cyprus and were stationed on the north side of Tyre during the blockade.

Credits

Courtesy of the United States Military Academy Department of History.

Related Links

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