SISINNES TO STRATO.
AND FROM THE FIRST TYRIAN REVOLUTION TO AZELMIC.
At the termination of the siege by Nebuchadnezzar, we have stated, that the remaining Tyrians fled to the Island, opposite to the ancient metropolis destroyed by the Babylonian. The inhabitants never rebuilt the Capital upon the ruins on the mainland, but upon the Island which had received and sheltered them, they had for the last half-century turned all their attention;—this was now renewed with redoubled energy,—upon it they erected their new, and in time, gorgeous Temples,—especially that dedicated to Hercules-Apollo, the tutelary God of the Tyrians. They also surrounded the Island with a sea-wall, 150 feet in height, and of proportionate thickness,—and from there being no approach to it but by water, the new metropolis was considered impregnable. Upon the mainland they erected many buildings of a minor character, such as are usually found in the environs of a City;—and a great proportion of the labouring classes dwelt there; as, also, the strangers visiting Tyrus in pursuit of traffic or merchandise. Many years were employed in bringing the Island-Capital to a state of complete defence, owing to the diminished numbers of the male population immediately after the siege. Tyrus must now be viewed as only on the Island, which was about 800 yards from the shore,—somewhat less than half a mile.
From the time of Sisinnes the Nation continued to increase in wealth and power. The former cause of her pride and glory—Navigation—was revived with all the energy and perseverance for which their ancestors in the time of Hiram had been so justly renowned. As in her days of ancient fame, Tyrus had loaned and built fleets and navies for Israel and Egypt, she now did the same for the Persian Monarch in his war upon Greece. A double motive caused this,—not only the pride of being able to furnish a navy, but her spirit of monopoly had again risen, and begun to stalk abroad,—for Greece had already aroused the jealousy of the Tyrians, and any means to crush or destroy the harbour of the Peiræus, would advance their wishes. From the Persian they could entertain no fears of commercial rivalry, for he had no river or port upon the Mediterranean.
The honour of Tyrus, as a Nation, however, was shewn in refusing to loan or man a navy, intended by a foreign king (who at first concealed his intent) for carrying on a war against Carthage, and which denial led to the abandonment of the proposed warfare. It will be remembered that Carthage was originally founded by a Tyrian Princess and her countrymen. The Patriotism of the Tyrians was as powerful as their knowledge of Science was universal.
For thirty-five years Tyrus enjoyed the freedom of an independent nation, when all Phœnicia was laid under contribution by the Monarch of Persia:—He was content, however, with a mere nominal tribute from the Tyrians in return for their aid against the Greeks,—and perhaps from a distant belief that that assistance might again be required. In furtherance of this design or policy, he did not depose the reigning king, but recognised in him the exercise of full powers (except the tribute) as a monarch of an independent nation.
480 B. C.] This nominal tribute was during the reign of Marten. The king and nobles were willing to flatter the vanity of the Persian by the nominal payment, for by his forbearance from any further action against the Islanders, it enabled them to increase their power, and retain their "places" both at home and abroad;—they, therefore, could well afford to spare from their rich and overflowing treasury of Pride, so small a portion of a superfluity.
Zechariah wrote [ch. ix.] "And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold [the Island-Citadel], and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the street;"—but her Pride was as subtle, "as broad and general as the casing air,"—it was in and around her,—it was her nature,—to have been otherwise would have destroyed her identity and nationality. It was, however, upon one occasion, exerted as a noble spirit, and atoned for her errors past,—it proved that Freedom was not dead within the walls of Tyrus;—and the now noble exertion of the only Pride justifiable in any country,—that of National Freedom,—led to the first and only Revolution in the annals of the Tyrians in Asia. [475 B. C.]
Justin states that it was an insurrection among the Slaves! We do not presume to contradict the record of any Historian, but would rather use every effort to support their statements by facts and evidence, as in the instance of Herodotus concerning the first Voyage around Africa;—but the record of Justin cannot be founded in truth, so far as relates to the supposed class of human beings rising against their Monarch and his Council. Tyrus had no Slaves, in the usual acceptation of the word,—for she had no foreign conquests,—and her subjects were too proud to allow of any but themselves to pilot or man their galleys,—either for merchandise or warfare;—nor would she allow foreigners to live within her walls, especially of the lower ranks of life, lest they should obtain the secret of ship-building, and so convey intelligence to other nations bordering upon the Mediterranean. But ancient writers have generally viewed the tiers état,—or the third class of despotic Empires and Kingdoms as Slaves, and so have written of them. Even to so late a period as half a century ago, the same was done in France, till her Revolution (although it moved in blood and tyranny, and brought to light human-monsters) established that the People were to enjoy rights and liberties; in analogy with those claimed and exercised by the Islanders of Britain, or their descendants in the Western Hemisphere. The great National lesson was first taught the World by the Rebellion of the Patriot,—Jeroboam, and the Ten Tribes,—from the "whip" and "scorpion" Son of Solomon!
The Rebellion of Jeroboam was but 500 years before this period, [475 B. C.] and from the great intercourse between the Judæans and Tyrians, the event must have been familiar to the latter, and may have had its natural influence, therefore, in forwarding a similar action of their own.