SIDON, or ZIDON, the most ancient, and for a long time the chief city of PLICEN10E, and probably the mother city of Tyre, which is called in the Bible "the daughter of Sidon." It stood on the coast of the Mediterranean, in a plain about a mile broad, about 30 miles N. by E. from Tyre, 20 miles S. from Berytns (Beyrout), and 66 miles W. from Damascus. It possessed a good harbour, and at a very early period became a great maritime and commercial city. As early as the time of Joshua ()Le. 1444) it is called 'Great Zidon.' The Sidon ians are thought to have been the first manufacturers of glass (Plin., v. 17), and their skill in arts and manufactures is frequently referred to by Homer, as well as by later writers. They are often mentioned in the Bible as skilful builders. They were worshippers of the god dess Ashtoreth, whose head is commonly found upon their coins.
At the division of Canaan among the Israelites, Sidon, with the adjacent country, fell to the tribe of Asher, who were never able to conquer it. The importance of Sidon was gradually eclipsed by that of Tyre, which then became the chief city of Phoenicia. When Shalmanezer invaded Syria, Sidon separated itself from Tyre, and sur rendered to him. The Sidonians furnished the best ships in the fleet
which Xerxes collected for the invasion of Greece. (Herod., vii. 96; 'Hi. 67.) Under Artaxerxes Ochus the Sidonians revolted, together with the other Phoenicians and the Cyprians. After a short siege Sidon was betrayed to Ochus by its king, Tennes, upon which the Sidonians burnt themselves with their city and treasures. (Died. Sic., xvi. 41-45.) The city was rebuilt. It submitted to Alexander the Great without resistance. After his death it was subject alternately to the kings of Egypt and Syria, till it fell under the power of the Romans. Saida, or Seyde, still a place of some commerce, with about 6000 inhabitants, retains the name, and occupies part of the site of the ancient city, of which some traces are said to exist two miles inland. In a bill near the town are innumerable sepulchral cells, the walls of which in many instances are covered with Phconician inscriptions. In the mountains, 8 miles east of Saida, is Djoun, long the residence of Lady Hester Stanhope, who died here June 1839. Sidon suffered a bombardment by the allied fleets of England, Austria, and Turkey in 1840.