Lebanon - Tyre (Tsur)-Southern Lebanon; Cornelis de Bruyn - Tyrus - 1681-1700

The historic city of Tyre (also known as Tsur) in southern Lebanon holds a significant place in ancient and medieval geography. Renowned as a major Phoenician port city, Tyre was famous for its role in maritime trade and the production of purple dye, a highly prized commodity in antiquity. Maps from the late 17th century, such as those reflecting the work of Cornelis de Bruyn, capture Tyre’s strategic importance along the Eastern Mediterranean coast. These maps not only depict the city itself but also its surrounding region, illustrating key geographic and political features of southern Lebanon during that era. Collectors and historians value such maps for their detail and as windows into the cartographic knowledge and artistic techniques of the time.