Beirut's Roots

This week, a bomb in Beirut killed former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri. The popular leader resigned last October while calling on Syria to remove the 14,000 troops it keeps inside Lebanon. Now that call is coming even louder. In fact, Hariri's funeral quickly turned into an anti-Syrian rally, with more than 150,000 mourners chanting "Syria out! Syria out!"

Your paper will tell you that Syrian troops have been deployed around Beirut for decades, ever since the Lebanese civil war raged from 1975 to 1990. It probably won't mention that Beirut itself has been around since biblical times--and that its relationship with Syria has ancient roots, too.

Beirut's Roots

The first mention of a city called "Biruta" dates to the 15th century BC. Back then, the region now called Lebanon was inhabited by seafaring traders whom the Old Testament calls Canaanites.

The Greeks called these merchant mariners Phoenicians (from "phoinikies," a purple dye they sold), and adapted their alphabetic script for their own use. Unfortunately for the Phoenicians, neighbors coveted more than their letters. Beirut's wealth made it a target. At various times, the ancient city and its natural harbor were conquered by Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, and Romans.


Want to learn more?
Visit Lebanon's historic sites online

All for a one-time payment of just $34.95--
no renewals, ever!

KnowledgeNews.net * 123 South 6th Street * Marshall, Illinois 62441 * USA

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Write to us at info@knowledgenews.net

We read every note and answer as quickly as possible.