Written by Iman Salameh
Translated by Assaad Maalouf
Sidon in the Western side of Beirut, on the Mediterranean coastline, linking between Beirut and the South, played a significant cultural role throughout history, especially through being the heir to Phoenicia’s Sidon which published the alphabet across Greece and the place where Murex was discovered and glass produced.
All historians agreed that Sidon was the oldest famous city in history, and its seaport and castle and archaeological sites are clear evidence in this regard.
Sidon’s name took the present form in Latin and Greek tongues, and is synonymous with the plethora of fish along its seashores whereupon most of its inhabitants served as fishermen.
The French historian, Jack Nante, in his book “History of Lebanon,” says that Sidon was the first city established by the Phoenicians in 2800 B.C. According to Sheikh Ahmad Aref Az-Zein, the city was namely established by Kanaan’s son, Sidon, who is Noah’s grandson, in 2218 B.C. or before. Sidon was also known in the era of Yachouh bin-Noon as “the mother of Phoenician cities.”
Sidon was historically discovered in 1000 B.C. and lavished with prosperity in late 2000 B.C., during which the city was divided into two parts:
- Grand Sidon or Sea Sidon famed for industry and commerce
- Minor Sidon locating the city’s outskirts, at high altitude levels
It’s worth noting that the Phoenicians came to Lebanon in 3000 B.C., and the Greek were the first to name the inhabitants of the Mid-Syrian coastline and the South as Phoenicians, meaning in Greek the red color, according to French exploration activities in 1914.
Sidon witnessed various historical stages initiated by Romans, Byzantines, Umayyads, Abbasids, Fatimid, Crusaders, Ottomans, and others. In the wake of World War I and the termination of Ottoman authority, Sidon was affiliated to the Lebanese entity by virtue of its rulers to become the capital of South in the Lebanese Republic.
The city afterwards witnessed the French mandate period that ended on November 22, 1943, at the onset of Lebanon’s independence and the defeat of all foreign forces across Lebanon. And later on, it knew the Israeli occupation, most notably the 1982 invasion.
As earlier mentioned, exploration exercises started by the French in Sidon in 1914 and had continued till mid 60s before it revived again in 1998, upon the British Museum’s funding, to truly unveil historical landmarks through different rock layers, as follows:
- The Bronze Age (3000 B.C.) finds expression in six layers of rock
- The Mid Bronze Age (2000 B.C.) refers to eight layers
- The Persian Phoenician Age (1000 B.C.) refers to five
Researchers also showed that excavations uncovered Islamic and Roman layers.
Sidon’s economy had primarily depended on the cultivation of orange, citrus, bananas, and cotton until mid-19thC. And what distinguished the city from other regions was that all its peoples and cultures made out of its sea coastline a trade hub for different segments in the world – Persians, Arab, Turkish and others. Besides, Sidon was famed for wood trade, ships construction, and Murex extraction to cover textiles.
With regard to it's industry, historians affirm that the people of Sidon had been the first to produce glass, especially the transparent type. They also knew all kinds of metallic industry, gold and silver molding, earthen vessels production, inscription and chiseling. Until nowadays, European museums largely contain different beautiful, multi-colored, glassy products made in Sidon.
Translated by Assaad Maalouf
Sidon in the Western side of Beirut, on the Mediterranean coastline, linking between Beirut and the South, played a significant cultural role throughout history, especially through being the heir to Phoenicia’s Sidon which published the alphabet across Greece and the place where Murex was discovered and glass produced.
All historians agreed that Sidon was the oldest famous city in history, and its seaport and castle and archaeological sites are clear evidence in this regard.
Sidon’s name took the present form in Latin and Greek tongues, and is synonymous with the plethora of fish along its seashores whereupon most of its inhabitants served as fishermen.
The French historian, Jack Nante, in his book “History of Lebanon,” says that Sidon was the first city established by the Phoenicians in 2800 B.C. According to Sheikh Ahmad Aref Az-Zein, the city was namely established by Kanaan’s son, Sidon, who is Noah’s grandson, in 2218 B.C. or before. Sidon was also known in the era of Yachouh bin-Noon as “the mother of Phoenician cities.”
Sidon was historically discovered in 1000 B.C. and lavished with prosperity in late 2000 B.C., during which the city was divided into two parts:
- Grand Sidon or Sea Sidon famed for industry and commerce
- Minor Sidon locating the city’s outskirts, at high altitude levels
It’s worth noting that the Phoenicians came to Lebanon in 3000 B.C., and the Greek were the first to name the inhabitants of the Mid-Syrian coastline and the South as Phoenicians, meaning in Greek the red color, according to French exploration activities in 1914.
Sidon witnessed various historical stages initiated by Romans, Byzantines, Umayyads, Abbasids, Fatimid, Crusaders, Ottomans, and others. In the wake of World War I and the termination of Ottoman authority, Sidon was affiliated to the Lebanese entity by virtue of its rulers to become the capital of South in the Lebanese Republic.
The city afterwards witnessed the French mandate period that ended on November 22, 1943, at the onset of Lebanon’s independence and the defeat of all foreign forces across Lebanon. And later on, it knew the Israeli occupation, most notably the 1982 invasion.
As earlier mentioned, exploration exercises started by the French in Sidon in 1914 and had continued till mid 60s before it revived again in 1998, upon the British Museum’s funding, to truly unveil historical landmarks through different rock layers, as follows:
- The Bronze Age (3000 B.C.) finds expression in six layers of rock
- The Mid Bronze Age (2000 B.C.) refers to eight layers
- The Persian Phoenician Age (1000 B.C.) refers to five
Researchers also showed that excavations uncovered Islamic and Roman layers.
Sidon’s economy had primarily depended on the cultivation of orange, citrus, bananas, and cotton until mid-19thC. And what distinguished the city from other regions was that all its peoples and cultures made out of its sea coastline a trade hub for different segments in the world – Persians, Arab, Turkish and others. Besides, Sidon was famed for wood trade, ships construction, and Murex extraction to cover textiles.
With regard to it's industry, historians affirm that the people of Sidon had been the first to produce glass, especially the transparent type. They also knew all kinds of metallic industry, gold and silver molding, earthen vessels production, inscription and chiseling. Until nowadays, European museums largely contain different beautiful, multi-colored, glassy products made in Sidon.
