#1 Byblos is one of the 20 oldest cities in the world. It has been continuously inhabited ever since it was established in 5,000 B.C.
#2 According to a legend, the city was built by the god Cronus as the first city in Phoenicia. In Greek mythology, Cronus is the titan of the harvest.
#3 Byblos is associated with the history of the diffusion of the Phoenician alphabet.
#4 The first inscription in the Phoenician alphabet was found on the sarcophagus of Ahiram who was the king of Byblos!
#5 Byblos was located on the trade route where merchants exported papyrus from Egypt to Greece.
#6 This ancient city is home to the monumental temples of the Bronze Age, Persian fortifications, a Roman road, Byzantine churches, and the Crusader citadel.
#7 The Castle of Gibelet is one of the main landmarks in Byblos.
It was built by the Crusaders in the 12th century. The most important finds are displayed in the National Museum of Beirut.
#8 The landmarks that you must visit in this ancient city are Byblos Castle, Temple of the Obelisks, Sultan Abdul Majid Mosque, Saint John the Baptist Church, and the port.
#9 You can now use Google Street View to virtually explore Byblos
And also other landmarks in Lebanon such as Sidon Sea Castle, the Phoenician Wall, Mseilha Fort, and Shouf Biosphere Reserve.
The Lebanese Ministry of Tourism and Google collaborated to capture the best images possible and uncover the beauty of Lebanon to the world.
