Barsbay Tower
| Barsbay Tower | |
|---|---|
برج السباع | |
| Part of the coastal defense fortifications of Mamluk Tripoli | |
Barsbay Tower at the turn of the 20th century | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Fortress |
| Open to the public | yes |
| Condition | Mostly intact |
| Location | |
Barsbay Tower | |
| Coordinates | 34°27′00″N 35°49′41″E / 34.4498833°N 35.8280396°E |
| Site history | |
| Built | 15th century |
| Built by | Sultan Al-Ashraf Sayf ad-Dīn Barsbāy |
| Materials | Limestone, granite, wood |
The Barsbay Tower (Arabic: برج برسباي, romanized: Burj Barsbay), also known as Lions Tower (Arabic: برج السباع, romanized: Burj es-Sibaa), is a small Mamluk military fortress located at the far eastern end of the Tripoli harbor in North Lebanon. Constructed during a period marked by ongoing conflicts with Crusader forces and later the rising Ottoman Empire, the tower was part of a defensive network aimed at protecting the coastal city of Tripoli from naval threats and is a remarkable example of Mamluk military architecture.
The tower features a distinctive portico with ablaq (alternating black-and-white ashlar stone stripes) and incorporates repurposed granite Roman columns embedded horizontally into its walls for structural reinforcement. Barsbay Tower's defensive architecture includes a sloping base, forming a small talus, a defensive design intended to deflect projectiles, and arrowslits. The tower features decorative relief moldings and remnants of heraldic symbols that hint at the structure's patrons.