Beirut
Beirut is Lebanon’s capital and largest city, a Mediterranean port shaped by trade, migration, cultural exchange, and recurrent conflict.
Phoenicia: An ancient civilization of maritime city-states along the eastern Mediterranean, including Tyre, Sidon, and Byblos. Beirut grew within the Phoenician coastal world, though it became prominent later than neighboring ports.
Port of Beirut: Lebanon’s principal seaport, located on the Mediterranean coast north of central Beirut. The port connected the city to regional trade and became a major site of destruction in 2020.
National Museum of Beirut: Lebanon’s principal archaeological museum, holding artifacts from prehistoric times through the medieval period. Its collection preserves Beirut's wider history, while damage and protection during the civil war made it a symbol of endurance.
Tripoli, Lebanon: Lebanon’s second-largest city, a northern Mediterranean port with a historic old city and major Mamluk architecture. Tripoli shares Lebanon’s coastal history but contrasts with Beirut’s role as national capital.
Lebanese Civil War: A multi-sided conflict in Lebanon lasting from 1975 to 1990, involving Lebanese factions and foreign forces. The war devastated Beirut and entrenched divisions that continued to shape its politics.
Roman Beirut: The Roman-era city of Berytus, known for its law school, veteran colony, and monumental architecture. Roman rule made Beirut a major legal and educational center in the eastern provinces.
Beirut Central District: The central commercial and civic area of Beirut, substantially rebuilt after the Lebanese Civil War. Its reconstruction shows how postwar redevelopment reshaped the capital's historic core.
Pigeon Rocks: Two offshore limestone formations at Raouché, on Beirut’s western Mediterranean shoreline. The formations are among the city's best-known coastal landmarks.
Sidon: A southern Lebanese coastal city known in antiquity as a major Phoenician port. Sidon was an ancient maritime power before Beirut became the leading modern Lebanese city.
Beirut barracks bombing: The 1983 suicide bombing of U.S. Marine and French military barracks in Beirut, killing hundreds. The attack brought international attention to the capital's place in regional conflict.