Posted on 09/18/2003 4:53:56 PM PDT by blam
Archaeologists tout major find in Tyre
Mohammed Zaatari
Daily Star correspondent
A Japanese archaeological mission engaged in the excavation of Tyre’s historical past for the last three years has discovered what could be the temple of the sun god once worshipped by the Romans.
The archaeologists found a temple topped by a circle which depicts the sun. Small cultic figurines were found at the site, but as yet, no large statue has been found. Many of the Roman gods worshipped in the Eastern Mediterranean were identified with older, Phoenician gods, and their worship was frequently conducted on the sites of older temples. The Phoenician sun god was called Melqart, or Baal, which simply means lord. Melqart was the patron god of Tyre and its famous colony Carthage, situated in what is now Tunisia.
The archaeological mission finished the second stage of excavations in the Bourj al-Shemali Palestinian refugee camp area, east of the city. The mission has recently surveyed the Roman cemetery it discovered, and excavated a number of burial sites in caves. The site may prove to be the largest Roman burial ground in the Middle East. The director of archaeology in the South, Ali Badawi, said Wednesday that the mission concentrated on three tasks: conducting a survey to document the archaeological site of Tyre in three dimensions; excavating the burial sites discovered; and preserving any murals they found. Badawi said that the discoveries would be compared with others made in Jordan to shed light on the Roman period in the Middle East. The head of the Japanese mission, Izimi Takira, expressed satisfaction with the discoveries made thus far, especially the latest burial site discovered, which contained currency minted in Tyre during the Roman era, among other things.
He said he had inspected many archaeological sites in various countries, and that the Bourj al-Shemali discoveries might be even more important than Roman findings in the Syrian city of Palmyra.
After excavations are finished on the site, it is expected to be opened to tourists, like Tyre’s other archaeological sites.
Work on the site has finished for this year. The mission shipped back the survey equipment on Tuesday and its members, with the exception of the team leader, left the country for home.
Oh. This is in Israel, then. I thought so.
Facts in brief:
Home of legendary Biblical king Hiram; withstood attacks from Assyrians & Babylonians; resisted Nebuchadnezzar II 6th cen. BC; captured by Alexander 332 BC; controlled by Seleucids & Romans 7th cen. AD; taken by Crusaders 1124; fell to Muslims 1291.
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