Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography Volume II.djvu/1274

 1250 TYKUS. of the harbour was enclosed by two ledges of rock, with the assistance of walls, having a passage be- tween them about 140 feet wide, which funned the mouth of the harbour. In case of need this entrance could be closed with a boom or chain. At present this harbour is almost choked with sand, and only a TYEUS. small basin, of about 40 yards in diameter, can be traced (Shaw, Travels, vol. ii. p. 30); but in its original state it was about 300 yards long, and from 230 to 240 yards wide. Part of the modern town of Sur, or Sour, is built over its southern portion, and only vessels of v ry shallow draught can enter. A. B. r, D K, FF. GG. H. an. bh. 1. 2, 2. 3,3. 4, 4,;4,4. 5. Northern harbour. Supposed limit of ancient harbour Tract of loose sami. Southern, or Esyptian, harbour. Southern, or F.gynlian, roadstead. Isthipiis formed hy Alexander's mole. Deprpssion in the sand. Northern, or Sidonian, roadstead. Portions of inner sea-wall, visible above water. Ancient canal. Entrance of northern harbour. Orisiinal line of sea-wall. Outer wall, now below water. LiTie of rorks, bordered on the E. by a wall, not of ancient construction. Ledge of rocks projecting 90 feet into the sea. ri.AN OF TVRE. (From Kenrick's " Phoenicia.") 6. Columns united to the rock. 7. Rock, below .■) fpet of rulibish. 8. Ledge of rocks extending 200 feet into the sea. 9. Remains of a wall, with irons for mooring. 10. Masonry, showing the entrance of the canal. 11,11,11,11. Walls of the Cothon or harbour, about 25 feet broad. 12, 12. Portions of wall overturned in the harbour. 13. Rocky islets. 14. .Supposed submarine dyke or hreakwatpr. 15. Commpncement of the isthmus, covering several yards of the harbour wall. 16. Angle of the ancient wall of cirrumvallation, and probable limit of the island on the E. The southern roadstead was called the Egyptian, from its lying towards that country, and is described by Strabo (?. c.) as unenclosed. If, however, the researches of Bertou may be relied upon (Topogr. de Ti/r. p. 14). a stupendous sea-wall, or breakwater, .3.5 feet thick, and runnint; straight in a SW. direc- tion, for a distance of 2 miles, may still be traced. The wall is said to be covered with 2 or 3 fathoms of water, whilst within it the depth is from 6 to 8 fathoms. Bertou admits, however, that this wall has never been carefully examined; and if it had existed in ancient times, it is impossible to con- ceive how so stupendous a work should have escaped the notice of all the writers of antiquity. Accord- ing to the same authority, the whole southern part of the island was occupied by a cothon, or dock, se- parated from the roadstead by a wall, the remains of which are still visible. This harbour, like the northeiTi one, could be closed with a boom ; whence Chariton (vii. 2. p. 126, Reiske) takes occasion to compare the security of Tyre to that of a house with bolted doors. At present, however, there is nothing to serve for a harbour, and even the roadstead is not secure in all winds. (Shaw, ii. p. 30.) The northern and southern harbours were connected to- gether by means of a canal, so that ships could pass from one to the other. This canal may still be traced by the loose sand with which it is filled. We have already adverted to the sieges sustained by Tyre at the liands of Shalmaneser, Nebuchadnez-