The Nahr el-Kalb valley in Lebanon is home to over 20 inscriptions and rock reliefs carved into its limestone cliffs, known collectively as the Stelae of Nahr el-Kalb. These monuments, created between approximately 1500 BC and AD 1946, serve as historical records left by various civilizations and military leaders who traversed this strategic coastal passage north of Beirut.
Among the earliest carvings are three Egyptian hieroglyphic stelae attributed to Pharaoh Ramesses II, marking the extent of Egyptian influence in the region.
Additionally, six cuneiform inscriptions from Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian rulers, including Esarhaddon and Nebuchadnezzar II, are present, commemorating their respective military campaigns.
The site also features inscriptions from classical antiquity, such as those left by Roman Emperor Caracalla, as well as Greek and Latin texts documenting infrastructure projects and military achievements.
In the medieval period, Islamic inscriptions were added, notably by Mamluk Sultan Barquq and Druze Prince Fakhr-al-Din II, reflecting the region's political dynamics.
The modern era saw the addition of commemorations by colonial powers, including a memorial to Napoleon III's 1860 intervention and inscriptions marking the Allied forces' activities during World War I.
A significant Lebanese monument celebrates the nation's independence from France in 1943.
UNESCO included the Stelae of Nahr el-Kalb in its Memory of the World Register in 2005, highlighting the site's importance as a testament to Lebanon's diverse and layered history.
