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I have seen several different diagrams showing the Tyre siege. It's well known that they had constructed a second mole after the first one failed. Something to do with how the tide was coming in was destroying the first so they built the second at a different angle. One diagram I saw had the first mole running directly east to west and it was at the southern end of the island, the second mole was to the north coming down at the island in a south westerly direction.
A different diagram had both moles running parallel to eachother and again having the northern one as the second and final one built.
It's a stretch but, does anyone know if excavations have been done to solidify the exact locations? Looking at Google earth doesn't really help much since both sides have been silted up over the years.
Any information would be appreciated.

spitamenes wrote:I have seen several different diagrams showing the Tyre siege. It's well known that they had constructed a second mole after the first one failed. Something to do with how the tide was coming in was destroying the first so they built the second at a different angle. One diagram I saw had the first mole running directly east to west and it was at the southern end of the island, the second mole was to the north coming down at the island in a south westerly direction.
A different diagram had both moles running parallel to eachother and again having the northern one as the second and final one built.
It's a stretch but, does anyone know if excavations have been done to solidify the exact locations? Looking at Google earth doesn't really help much since both sides have been silted up over the years.
Any information would be appreciated.

Not sure whether this is what you might be looking for:

http://www.mediterranean-geoarchaeology ... /TYR08.pdf

the article is by Nick Marriner, who seems to have published extensively on the geoarcheology / bathymetry of Tyre. the above article includes an arial photo from 1950, with the course of the ancient causeway marked at streetlevel.

apparently, the correct geomorphological term for this kind of isthmus or mole is a "tombolo", a natural phenomenon occuring in coastal areas with close off-shore islands.

Chris.

Chris,
That helps out quite a bit. Strange how it only shows one ancient causeway. Maybe Alexander built the second right on top of the first. Or maybe the first just didn't get very far before failing. Anyway, thank you for the file. It was a big help.