lack in cultural interests among the authorities of this city, and almost of the non-existence of notable intellectual activities in its modern life. There are signs that the locals are beginning to recognize the value of the medieval quarters, but this remains linked to minor individual initiatives and not a coordinated collective effort to rehabilitate it like it has been the case with Byblos, even though the old district of Sidon contains a great wealth in old and ancient architecture. Biblical Sidon Hebrew Bible/Old Testament The Hebrew Bible describes Sidon () in several passages: It received its name from the "first-born" of Canaan, the grandson of Noah (, ). The Tribe of Zebulun has a frontier on Sidon () It was the first home of the Phoenicians on the coast of Canaan, and from its extensive commercial relations became a "great" city (, ). It was the mother city of Tyre. It lay within the lot of the tribe of Asher, but was never subdued (). The Sidonians long oppressed Israel (). From the time of David its glory began to wane, and Tyre, its "virgin daughter" (), rose to its place of pre-eminence. Solomon entered into a matrimonial alliance with the Sidonians, and thus their form of idolatrous worship found a place in the land of Israel (, ). Jezebel was a Sidonian princess (). It was famous for its manufactures and arts, as well as for its commerce (; ; ). It is frequently referred to by the prophets (, , ; , , ; , , , ; ). Elijah sojourned in Sidon, performing miracles (; see also in the New Testament, ). New Testament Jesus visited the region or "coasts" (King James Version) of Tyre and Sidon (; ) and from this region many came forth to hear him preaching (; ), leading to the stark contrast in to Korazin and Bethsaida. See the exorcism of the Syrophoenician woman's daughter, which takes place on the coast, in the region of Sidon and Tyre. From Sidon, at which his ship put in after leaving Caesarea, Paul finally sailed for Rome (, ). Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis () Sanchuniathon The account ascribed to the Phoenician historian Sanchuniathon makes Sidon a daughter of Pontus, son of Nereus. She