The ancient port city of Byblos lies in Lebanon on the Mediterranean Sea. The settlement was probably founded by the Phoenicians who made it an important trading center. Its name is derived from the Greek word for papyrus, which was exported from here. Thanks to archaeological excavations in Byblos the scientists discovered Neolithic huts, temples from the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, the Roman theater and the remains of the city walls from various periods of the settlement development. At the beginning of the 12th century the Crusaders came to Byblos and they built a castle and St John the Baptist Church.
