Reexamining Nebuchadnezzar II’s ‘Thirteen-Year’ Siege of Tyre in Phoenician Historiography

Abstract This study reexamines a lynchpin of Neo-Babylonian Levantine Phoenician historiography: Nebuchadnezzar II’s purported thirteen-year siege Tyre in the early sixth century bce . detail about length can be found only Josephus’ (first ce ) writings, but this study’s new assessment (sixth-fifteenth manuscript evidence shows that more commonly transmitted was “three years and ten months.” Other variations further illustrate there little continuous cultural memory event. When coupled with (a) other chronological problems works, (b) review complex Biblical, Mesopotamian, Classical relevant literary sources, (c) lack current for any destruction levels or siegeworks at site Tyre, case insisting sources synchronized framework weakens. Shorter sieges raids, blockades island inland ports, periodic Babylonian military presence to extract personnel resources are all likely scenarios sites during Nebuchadnezzar’s 43-year reign. Discarding single “thirteen-year siege” as reliable historical allows scholars period central coastal Levant shift their attention interesting questions, including exploring causes impacts evident changes Tyre’s seaward trading patterns sixth-fifth centuries.