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Byblos

Byblos

The ruins of many successive civilizations are found at Byblos, one of the oldest Phoenician cities. Inhabited since Neolithic times, it has been closely linked to the legends and history of the Mediterranean region for thousands of years. Byblos is also directly associated with the history and diffusion of the Phoenician alphabet.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Byblos

On trouve à Byblos les ruines successives d'une des plus anciennes cités du Liban, habitée dès le néolithique et étroitement liée à la légende et à l'histoire du bassin méditerranéen pendant plusieurs millénaires. Byblos est directement associée à l'histoire de la diffusion de l'alphabet phénicien.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

جبيل

نجد في جبيل الآثار المُتتاليّة لإحدى أقدم المدن في لبنان التي سكنتها الشعوب منذ العصر النيوليتي والتي تُعتبر جزءًا لا يتجزّأ من أسطورة حوض البحر الأبيض المتوسّط ومن تاريخه على مرّ ألوف السّنين. كما ترتبط جبيل ارتباطًا وثيقًا بتاريخ انتشار الأبجديّة الفينيقيّة.

source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

比布鲁斯

比布鲁斯是黎巴嫩最古老的城市之一,在那里发现了许多连续的文明废墟。它从新石器时代就开始有人居住,与数千年来地中海地区的传奇和历史紧密联系在一起。同时比布鲁斯也与腓尼基字母表的发展传播息息相关。

source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Древний город Библ (Джубейль)

В Библе, одном из древнейших финикийских городов, обнаружены следы многих сменявших друг друга цивилизаций. Населенный уже в период неолита, он был тесно связан с легендами и историей Средиземноморья в течение тысячелетий. Библ также непосредственно связан с историей и распространением финикийского алфавита.

source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Biblos

En Biblos se encuentran las ruinas de las sucesivas épocas de una de las más antiguas ciudades del Líbano, que fue habitada desde el Neolítico y estuvo estrechamente vinculada durante milenios a la leyenda y la historia de la cuenca del Mediterráneo. Biblos también está directamente asociada a la historia de la difusión del alfabeto fenicio.

source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

ビブロス
現在名はジュバイル。新石器時代から続く世界最古の街の一つ。BC3000年頃からフェニキア人の交易で栄え、ローマ帝国支配期には宗教都市として再生したが、イスラム勢力の侵攻につれ衰退に向かった。遺跡のランドマークでもある十字軍の要塞からは、新石器時代の住居、フェニキア王の9基の墓所、ローマ劇場跡、エジプト時代の26本のオベリスクなど、この街の長く、多彩な歴史を物語る遺跡群を見渡すことができる。

source: NFUAJ

Byblos

De kustplaats Byblos ligt op een klif van zandsteen zo'n 40 kilometer ten noorden van Beiroet. In de stad zijn de ruïnes van vele opeenvolgende beschavingen te vinden. Het is een van de oudste Fenicische steden. De stad wordt al bewoond sinds de neolithische tijd en is al duizenden jaren nauw verbonden met de legendes en geschiedenis van het Middellandse Zeegebied. De evolutie van de stad is duidelijk zichtbaar in de overblijfselen verspreid over het terrein, waaronder de middeleeuwse stad ‘intra muros’ en de antieke woningen. Byblos wordt ook direct in verband gebracht met de geschiedenis en de verspreiding van het Fenicische alfabet.

Source: unesco.nl

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

The coastal town of Byblos is located on a cliff of sandstone 40 km North of Beirut. Continuously inhabited since Neolithic times, Byblos bears outstanding witness to the beginnings of the Phoenician civilization. The evolution of the town is evident in the structures that are scattered around the site, dating from the different periods, including the medieval town intra-muros, and antique dwellings. Byblos is a testimony to a history of uninterrupted construction from the first settlement by a community of fishermen dating back 8000 years, through the first town buildings, the monumental temples of the Bronze Age, to the Persian fortifications, the Roman road, Byzantine churches, the Crusade citadel and the Medieval and Ottoman town. Byblos is also directly associated with the history and diffusion of the Phoenician alphabet. The origin of our contemporary alphabet was discovered in Byblos with the most ancient Phoenician inscription carved on the sarcophagus of Ahiram.

Criterion (iii): Byblos bears an exceptional testimony to the beginnings of Phoenician civilization.

Criterion (iv): Since the Bronze Age, Byblos provides one of the primary examples of urban organization in the Mediterranean world.

Criterion (vi): Byblos is directly and tangibly associated with the history of the diffusion of the Phoenician alphabet (on which humanity is still largely dependent today), with the inscriptions of Ahiram, Yehimilk, Elibaal and Shaphatbaal.

Integrity 

The inscribed property comprises Phoenician and Roman elements whilst the large protected zone requested by the World Heritage Committee covers the medieval town within the walls and the sector of the necropolis, and consequently many features are located beyond the boundaries. The ancient town of Byblos intra-muros possesses all the elements characterising a medieval town (wall, cathedral, castle and donjon), later modified as an Ottoman-type town (souqs, khans, mosque, houses).  The strong urban pressure that threatens this Ottoman town has for the most part been contained thanks to national and international listing of this part of the town, but new developments around the port remain a threat. The archaeological sites are rendered very vulnerable through lack of consolidation work following excavations and many monuments are awaiting repair to avoid the risk of collapse, which has been the case of a wall located nearby the rampart.

Authenticity

The authenticity of the archaeological elements is very vulnerable because the climatic conditions cause the erosion of some parts, reducing comprehension of what they represented.  This phenomenon is a source for concern and more particularly as regards the mosaics.

Protection and management requirements

The site is protected by the Lebanese Antiquities Law 133/1937 and law NO 166 of 1933. The town plan and of the listed zone is being implemented. The town intra-muros is inscribed on the national list of Historic Monuments. The conservation and management of the site of Byblos are ensured by the Directorate General of Antiquities (DGA). Targeted conservation projects are underway within the property. All restoration and other permits in the intra-muros zone must be submitted for approval to the DGA. As concerns construction permits, the same laws mentioned above are applicable not only within the site but also throughout the whole region of Byblos. The DGA retains the right to modify any construction project, depending upon the buried archaeological discovered during sounding operations, before granting a permit.  Agreement with the Municipality and the local police force is required in order to counter, if need be, any illegal action on the part of the owner. A protection and enhancement plan for the site is being prepared to ensure a better presentation of these unique ruins and to develop a new protection system for the site while respecting international charters. Cooperation with specialists in the restoration of historic monuments is primordial. The plan should coordinate all those specializations involved in the property and also treat the subject of underwater remains.

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