Biblical city
Sidon
Saida, Lebanon · Phoenicia
An ancient Phoenician port north of Tyre, Sidon appears in the days of the judges and the kings, in Elijah's stay at Zarephath, and in Jesus' ministry to the region (Mark 7:24-31).
History in Scripture
Older than Tyre and named for Canaan's firstborn, Sidon appears throughout the Old Testament as a Phoenician city whose religion drew Israel astray through Jezebel. Elijah was sustained by the widow of Zarephath in its territory, and Jesus healed the daughter of a Syrophoenician woman near Sidon.
The ancient city
A harbour city of merchants and craftsmen, Sidon traded glass and dye and was at times subject to Assyria, Babylon and Persia, whose kings favoured its fleet.
The site today
Saida is a working Lebanese port with a Crusader sea castle, an Ottoman khan and a restored soap museum in its old town.
Key passages
Sources & notes
Description summarizes standard historical and archaeological reference works. Imagery is added separately and is labeled by type.