Ladder of Tyre (Aramaic:Sûlama de Ṣôr,Greek:Ἡ κλίμαξ Τύρου, Latin:Scala Tyriorum), also known as theLadder of the Tyrians and thePromontory of Tyre, is a geographical feature mentioned in Greek and Hebrew sources, distinguished by a littoral mountainous range, the highest point of which is distant 18.5 kilometres (11.5 mi) north ofAcre in northern Israel. The range stretches beyondTyre insouthern Lebanon. Along itsMediterranean coastline, the Ladder of Tyre skirts an area of about five miles wide at its greatest width, and is distinguished by capes that jut westward into the sea from the ridge which runs parallel to the general line of the coast. These capes project more than a mile into the sea, and rise precipitously at a mean elevation of 250 feet (76 m) above sea level. The Ladder of Tyre is mentioned in theFirst Book of Maccabees (11:59), the writings ofJosephus,[1] theBabylonian Talmud,[2] and theJerusalem Talmud.[3]
The Ladder of Tyre, shown in Aaron Arrowmsmith's 1815 mapA Sketch of the Countries between Jerusalem and Aleppo
According to the Babylonian Talmud, the waters of the region were formerly known for themarine molluskMurex, harvested for its blue-dye.[4][5] The 1st-century historianJosephus puts 100stadia (c. 11½ mi.; 18½ km) from the north of Acre to the highest point in the promontory known as the Ladder of Tyre.[6] This high place is now associated with theRosh HaNikra grottoes, which marked the southern pass intoPhoenicia proper, and formed the boundary between that country and thekingdom of Israel.[7][8][9] According to Josephus, a place nearby was also known for its fine, crystalline sand used inglass making.
Adolf Neubauer andHenry Baker Tristram thought that the Ladder of Tyre was to be identified with Cape Blanco (Ras el-Abyad, 'White Cape'), about 9.6 kilometres (6.0 mi) north of Rās en-Nakūrah (the Arabic name of Rosh HaNikra; see above) and belonging to the same mountain range.[10][11] According to historical geographerJoseph Schwarz, where theMount Amana range terminates at the rock cliffs of Rās en-Nakūrah, "on this rock is a narrow ascent, shaped somewhat like steps, by which its summit can be reached; hence it is called in the Talmudthe Ladder of Tyre."[12]Conder was of the same opinion, that the promontory of Nakūrah was the same as the ancient Ladder of Tyre.[13] Historical geographer, Isaac Goldhor, places the Ladder of Tyre at a distance of 3biblical miles fromAchziv.[14]
^Babylonian Talmud (Shabbat 26a), which reads: "Said R. Jose: [What is meant by], 'And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left certain of the poor of the land forkormim and foryogvim?' (Jeremiah 52:16).Kormim, these are they who harvest thebalsam fromEin Gedi toRamatha;Yogvim, these are they that harvest themarine mollusk from the Ladder of Tyre toHaifa."
^Jensen (1963), p.106; Cf.Safrai et al. (1976), p.676.
Rodgers, Zuleika; Daly-Denton, Margaret; Fitzpatrick-McKinley, Anne, eds. (2009).A Wandering Galilean: Essays in Honour of Seán Freyne. Leiden: Brill.ISBN9789004173552.OCLC297406369.
Safrai, S.;Flusser, D. (1976).The Jewish People in the First Century (Historical Geography, Political History). Vol. 2. Amsterdam: Van Gorcum, Assen.ISBN90-232-1436-6
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