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Byblos
is one of the top contenders for the
"oldest continuously inhabited
city" award. According to
Phoenician tradition it was founded
by the God El, and even the
Phoenicians considered it a city of
great antiquity. Although its
beginnings are lost in time, modern
scholars say the site of Byblos goes
back at least 7,000 years.
Ironically, the words "Byblos"
and "Phoenicia" would not
have been recognized by the city’s
early inhabitants. For several
thousand years it was called "Gubla"
and later "Gebal," while
the term "Canaan" was
applied to the coast in general.It
was the Greeks, some time after 1200
B.C., who gave us the name
"Phoenicia," referring to
the coastal area. And they called
the city "Byblos"
(papyrus" in Greek),
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because
this commercial center was important
in the papyrus
trade.Today Byblos (Jbeil in Arabic)
on the coast 37 kilometers
north of Beirut, is a prosperous
place with glass-fronted office
buildings and crowded streets. But
within the old town, medieval Arab
and Crusader remains are continuous
reminders of the past. Nearby are
the extensive excavations that make
Byblos one of the most important
archaeological sites in the area
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A
thriving modern town with an ancient
heart, Byblos is a mix of
sophistication and tradition. The
old harbor is sheltered from the sea
by a rocky headland. Nearby are the
excavated remains of the ancient
city, the Crusader castle and church
and the old market area.
For a real taste of Byblos, stroll
through the streets and byways. This
part of town is a collection of old
walls (some medieval) overlapping
properties and intriguing
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Major
Cities - Byblos
