Take a trip down the western border of Lebanon and you’ll find a blatant contradiction along the shores of the Mediterranean. Huddled within new high rises and developments lay the ruins of ancient Tyre, a Phoenician port city over four thousand years old. One of the cradles of civilization, Tyre boasts a myriad of contributions to the world, including long-distance navigation, the spread of the Phoenician (and later Greek) alphabets, and the royal hues of its rich purple dyes. With such an important site, preserving millennia of historical and cultural significance has become a cause drawing worldwide attention.
At a recent press conference at the National Press Club, representatives from the American Committee for Tyre, Tyre Foundation, UNESCO, and the Library of Congress spoke on the necessity of preserving the ancient site. Maha El-Khalil Chalabi, Secretary General of the American Committee for Tyre, invoked that Tyre needs to not only be protected for the present, but to ensure its value and importance to future generations.
Apart from centuries of natural erosion, one of the greatest threats to the ancient city of Tyre comes in the form of increased urbanization. There is a large incentive in the area to increase development, with an ever-growing urban sprawl threatening to encroach on the historic land. With local and national governments unable to provide all the necessary funding to maintain the protection of these sites and offer alternatives for residential and commercial development, ancient Tyre has found itself pushed up against the 21st century. Ms. Chalabi specifically cited a case where a resident fisherman’s union constructed a headquarters within the ruins of the historic port. With so little government intervention, Tyre preservation efforts to remove or relocate the building have been stymied by local interest.
Additionally, growing infrastructure has cast a shadow of doubt over the interaction between ancient and modern Tyre. Bigger and more prevalent roads and highways are struggling to find a foothold through many historic areas of the city. Since the city is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, development of both roads and buildings compete heavily to secure the remaining space left within Tyre.
Turning outside the city however, external conflicts pose a significant risk to the future of Tyre as well. Cultural heritage sites have recently become a target of terrorist action. With the destruction of artifacts in Iraqi museums, the American Committee for Tyre does recognize there is an increased risk to historic sites throughout the Middle East. Ms. Chalabi believes that Lebanon, and specifically Tyre is safe, but that it is necessary to upgrade care and protection of the ruins and artifacts to safeguard their posterity. She believes that in doing so, it will help people understand and respect the heritage of the region, a powerful tool to help combat the destructive actions of terrorism.
A lesser threat, the Tyre Foundation also acknowledged the potential risks associated with looters and illegal excavation. Collaborating with both Lebanese and international governments, preservation groups are working closely with the community to bar the trade and sale of illegally obtained artifacts. Such measures have helped mitigate threats, and rates of looting and excavating have been significantly minimized. Also, in working with other historic sites, ideas for preserving Tyre are being applied to other ancient cities and sites throughout Lebanon and the Middle East.
Reaching out to the international community, the Library of Congress will be holding a symposium on Tyre on June 3, 2015. Featuring exhibitions and historic reading materials, the symposium aims to bring greater attention to the need to preserve Tyre for generations to come.
Photo Credit: Photo by Wikimedia Commons.
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Tyre: The Volatile Future of an Ancient Wonder
March 31, 2015
Take a trip down the western border of Lebanon and you’ll find a blatant contradiction along the shores of the Mediterranean. Huddled within new high rises and developments lay the ruins of ancient Tyre, a Phoenician port city over four thousand years old. One of the cradles of civilization, Tyre boasts a myriad of contributions to the world, including long-distance navigation, the spread of the Phoenician (and later Greek) alphabets, and the royal hues of its rich purple dyes. With such an important site, preserving millennia of historical and cultural significance has become a cause drawing worldwide attention.
At a recent press conference at the National Press Club, representatives from the American Committee for Tyre, Tyre Foundation, UNESCO, and the Library of Congress spoke on the necessity of preserving the ancient site. Maha El-Khalil Chalabi, Secretary General of the American Committee for Tyre, invoked that Tyre needs to not only be protected for the present, but to ensure its value and importance to future generations.
Apart from centuries of natural erosion, one of the greatest threats to the ancient city of Tyre comes in the form of increased urbanization. There is a large incentive in the area to increase development, with an ever-growing urban sprawl threatening to encroach on the historic land. With local and national governments unable to provide all the necessary funding to maintain the protection of these sites and offer alternatives for residential and commercial development, ancient Tyre has found itself pushed up against the 21st century. Ms. Chalabi specifically cited a case where a resident fisherman’s union constructed a headquarters within the ruins of the historic port. With so little government intervention, Tyre preservation efforts to remove or relocate the building have been stymied by local interest.
Additionally, growing infrastructure has cast a shadow of doubt over the interaction between ancient and modern Tyre. Bigger and more prevalent roads and highways are struggling to find a foothold through many historic areas of the city. Since the city is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, development of both roads and buildings compete heavily to secure the remaining space left within Tyre.
Turning outside the city however, external conflicts pose a significant risk to the future of Tyre as well. Cultural heritage sites have recently become a target of terrorist action. With the destruction of artifacts in Iraqi museums, the American Committee for Tyre does recognize there is an increased risk to historic sites throughout the Middle East. Ms. Chalabi believes that Lebanon, and specifically Tyre is safe, but that it is necessary to upgrade care and protection of the ruins and artifacts to safeguard their posterity. She believes that in doing so, it will help people understand and respect the heritage of the region, a powerful tool to help combat the destructive actions of terrorism.
A lesser threat, the Tyre Foundation also acknowledged the potential risks associated with looters and illegal excavation. Collaborating with both Lebanese and international governments, preservation groups are working closely with the community to bar the trade and sale of illegally obtained artifacts. Such measures have helped mitigate threats, and rates of looting and excavating have been significantly minimized. Also, in working with other historic sites, ideas for preserving Tyre are being applied to other ancient cities and sites throughout Lebanon and the Middle East.
Reaching out to the international community, the Library of Congress will be holding a symposium on Tyre on June 3, 2015. Featuring exhibitions and historic reading materials, the symposium aims to bring greater attention to the need to preserve Tyre for generations to come.
Photo Credit: Photo by Wikimedia Commons.
