formerly a celebrated city of Asia, on the coast of Syria, situated under the 54th degree of east longitude, and 32d of north latitude. It was built, according to some writers, 2760 years before the Christian era. There were two cities of that name; the one called Palætyrus, situated on the continent; and the other the city of Tyre, built on an island about half a mile from the shore. It was about 19 miles in circumference, including Palætyrus; the town on the island was about four miles round. The buildings of Tyre were very magnificent; the walls were 150 feet high, and broad in proportion. This city was at one period the most famous commercial city in the world. Of its commercial transactions, the most particular account that is to be found in any ancient writer has been given by the prophet Ezekiel, which at the same time conveys a magnificent idea of the extensive power of that state. It resisted Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon for 13 years; at the end of which, wearied with fruitless efforts, the inhabitants resolved to place the sea between them and their enemy, and passed accordingly into the island. The new city stood out against Alexander the Great for seven months; and before he could take it, he was obliged to fill up the strait which separated the island from the continent. It was repaired afterwards by Adrian, and became the metropolis of the province. It afterwards fell into the hands of the Arabs; and after being taken by Baldwin II. king of Jerusalem, it was destroyed by the sultan of Egypt in 1289, and abandoned. An excellent account of its modern state may be found in Volney's Travels, vol. ii. It now consists of a small village, composed of fishermen's huts, and containing about 50 or 60 poor families.