Roman Nymphaeum

Historical

(+961) 09 540 001

Directions

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4J9W+WHP, Byblos

Open until 4:00 PM

Hours

mon8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Open

tue8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

wed8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

thu8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

fri8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

sat8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

sun8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

(+961) 09 540 001

About

The visible structure today was part of a Roman nymphaeum (public fountain). It was decorated with fountains and niches housing statues, including that of the goddess Hygeia, on display at the National Museum in Beirut.

The snake coiling around Hygeia's neck symbolizes the virtues of healing possessed by this goddess of health. The road leading to the city from the north heads towards the nymphaeum.

About Byblos

The city of Jbeil is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. 8,000 years ago, it was a fishermen village that grew afterwards to a large Canaanite and then Phoenician city. Later on, it was turned into a Roman agglomeration whose many vestiges can still be observed, suggesting an ancient richness. An important Crusader city, Jbeil was fortified by the still-visible rampart within the walls of which a castle and a cathedral were built. During the Ottoman period, the city had a souk, large houses with red-tiled roofs and mosques.