Centuries of constant human inhabitation resulted in accumulation of debris making the site very attractive to archaeologists all over the world. The city was first excavated during the year 1921 and this process carried on for about 45 years. These excavations lead to the unveiling of several historical ruins including the castle and the church built by the crusaders (during 12th and 13th centuries AD), the Roman Amphitheatre, the Egyptian and Phoenician temples, and Royal Necropolis (the earliest date back to the 4th Millennium BC)
Built in the 12th century, located at the entry of the Byblos Archaeological site and surrounded by a 10-meter wide dry moat, the crusaders castle rooftop boasts a panoramic view, accessible by visitors and tourists through a stone staircase. Inside, you can find a small museum and a room containing information about the city’s history.
At the entrance of this rich archaeological city and to the left are ancient ruins that reveal the remains of city ramparts from 2nd and 3rd millennium BC, three temples and a Roman theatre that overlooks the sea.
Early 2nd century BC revealed the remains of the Obelisk Temple and lead to the discovery of 1500 gold-covered figures in the shape of human beings which are now stored, preserved and displayed at Beirut’s National Museum.
This is the oldest temple on the site and dates back to the 4th century BC. It was the biggest in size and its construction resembled the highest significant importance as it was dedicated to Aphrodite (The Mistress of Byblos) in the course of the Roman period. It was mended and restored several times over the past two thousand years. Moreover, the 6 still standing columns nearing the temple are the ashes and traces of a roman street dating from c 300 A.D.
West of the Temple of Baalat Gebal stands the Roman theatre, its latest reconstruction is one-third the original size. It is located near the edge of the cliff and offers a stunning view of the Mediterranean Sea.
Nine royal tombs were inserted into vertically cut shafts, deep into the rock during the 2nd millennium BC. Some of the excavated sarcophagi (stone coffin with a sculpture or inscriptions) can now be found in the national museum, including that of King Hiram, whose coffin is inscribed with one of the earliest Phoenician alphabets in the world.
King’s Well is a spring that provided water to the city, up until the end of the Hellenistic era. Legend has it that Isis sat on this well weeping as she searched for Osiris.
Constructed through the use of mud-bricks, limestone and wood - Byblos city walls remain an illustration of ancient Phoenician architecture. Other representations include large temples, enclosed sacred spaces, high fortification walls and large-scale engineering projects such as dams and artificial harbors. Although very few remains have withstood the test of time and constant occupation throughout history, significant and relevant archaeological evidence can be found across the Mediterranean.
The Two defense towers in Byblos are a monument built by the crusaders with the intention of protecting the entrance of Byblos port from unwanted guests and intruders. An icon of valuable heritage, culture and history containing landmarks such as The Mosque of Sultan Abdel Majid (1648) and the fishing Harbor itself. The site includes delicious restaurants, a beautiful view of the surrounding nature and a place ideal for lovers and friends to spend some quality time.
