Byblos

Byblos, also known as Jbeil or Gebal, is a city on the Mediterranean coast of present-day Lebanon, about 35 kilometers north of Beirut. It is often cited as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with evidence of settlement dating to the Neolithic period.

In antiquity, Byblos was a major Phoenician port and trading center that linked the Levant with other regions around the Mediterranean. Its merchants exported cedar wood, wine, glass, and other goods, and the city played a key role in the spread of the Phoenician alphabet. The name Byblos is linked to the Greek biblos, meaning papyrus or book, reflecting its long involvement in papyrus trade with Egypt. The city was also home to temples such as the goddess Baalat Gebal, the “Lady of Byblos.”

The archaeological site preserves layers from multiple eras, including Phoenician, Greek, Roman, and Crusader periods, with features that include the Temple of Baalat Gebal, a Roman agora, city walls, and a Crusader fortress. Byblos is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ancient City of Byblos, designated in 1984. Today, Byblos is a coastal town and tourist center with a historic core, a working harbor, a marina, and traditional souks. Administratively, it forms part of the Byblos District in the Keserwan-Jbeil Governorate of Lebanon.