Walk the World Series: Lebanon - Byblos Ancient City

Byblos is one of the oldest cities in Lebanon, inhabited since the Neolithic era, closely linked to the legends and history of the Mediterranean region for thousands of years. Byblos is also closely related to the development and spread of the Phoenician alphabet. Located in the coastal region of ancient Phoenicia in Lebanon, Byblos (known as Gebal in the Bible) is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with a history dating back 7,000 years to the first groups of fishermen who settled there. In ancient times, Byblos had close ties with the great empires of the East and the Mediterranean and was one of the important centers of ancient culture. Today, the Lebanese city of Jbeil is situated on the site of Byblos. The history of Byblos is witnessed through the elegance of Romanesque churches, the simplicity of Byzantine churches, and the grandeur of Crusader castles, reflecting the city's glory and changes over time. Byblos is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with over 7,000 years of history, and was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1984. Figures 1 and 2, the Crusader Castle: The magnificent Crusader castle stands on the ruins of a building established by the Fatimid dynasty of Egypt in the 9th century, with its towering main structure overlooking the entire city. The stones of the castle were taken from Phoenician and Roman monumental buildings. This fortress, begun in the 12th century and continuously repaired and rebuilt over centuries, features several large vaulted halls. Archaeological excavations are ongoing in this ancient city formed by the interweaving and layering of several old towns. From the castle’s main tower vantage point, the vast excavation site is fully visible. Figure 11, remains of the Roman colonnade of the temple Figure 12, Phoenician Royal Necropolis Figure 13, Roman Amphitheater Figure 19, Saint John Marc Church – built by the Crusaders in 1115, originally named after John the Baptist, later renamed to honor Byblos’ patron saint, Saint John Marc. The church was built on the site of an ancient pagan temple, damaged by an earthquake in 1170, and subsequently repaired multiple times by the Ayyubid and Mamluk dynasties; in 1764, it was taken over and restored by the Lebanese Maronite Church, reopening in 1776. Figure 20, the Blue Dome Mosque of Byblos/Jbeil, Lebanon