Portal:Lebanon

The Lebanon Portal

A view of Byblos, Lebanon

Lebanon, officially the Lebanese Republic, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west; Cyprus lies a short distance from the coastline. Lebanon has a population of more than five million and an area of 10,452 square kilometres (4,036 sq mi). Beirut is the country's capital and largest city.

Human habitation in Lebanon dates to 5000 BC. From 3200 to 539 BC, it was part of Phoenicia, a maritime civilization that spanned the Mediterranean Basin. In 64 BC, the region became part of the Roman Empire and the subsequent Byzantine Empire. After the seventh century, it came under the rule of different Arab Islamic caliphates, including the Rashidun, Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates. The 11th century saw the establishment of Christian Crusader states, which fell to the Ayyubids and the Mamluks. Lebanon came under Ottoman rule in the early 16th century. Under Ottoman sultan Abdulmejid I, the first Lebanese proto-state, the Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate, was established as a home for Maronite Christians, as part of the Tanzimat reforms.

Lebanon is a developing country, ranked 112th on the Human Development Index. It has been classified as a lower-middle-income country. The Lebanese liquidity crisis, coupled with nationwide corruption and disasters such as the 2020 Beirut explosion, precipitated the collapse of Lebanon's currency and fomented political instability, widespread resource shortages, and high unemployment and poverty. The World Bank has defined Lebanon's economic crisis as one of the world's worst since the 19th century. Despite the country's small size, Lebanese culture is renowned both in the Arab world and globally, powered primarily by the large and influential Lebanese diaspora. Lebanon is a founding member of the United Nations and the Arab League, and a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, and the Group of 77. (Full article...)

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Bodashtart (also transliterated Bodʿaštort, meaning "from the hand of Astarte"; Phoenician: 𐤁𐤃𐤏𐤔𐤕𐤓𐤕) was a Phoenician ruler, who reigned as King of Sidon (c. 525 – c. 515 BC), the grandson of King Eshmunazar I, and a vassal of the Achaemenid Empire. He succeeded his cousin Eshmunazar II to the throne of Sidon, and scholars believe that he was succeeded by his son and proclaimed heir Yatonmilk.

Bodashtart was a prolific builder, and his name is attested on approximately thirty eponymous inscriptions discovered at the Temple of Eshmun and elsewhere in the hinterland of the city of Sidon, in present-day Lebanon. The earliest known inscription bearing Bodashtart’s name was excavated in Sidon in 1858 and subsequently donated to the Louvre. Dating to the first year of his accession to the throne of Sidon, it commemorates the construction of a temple dedicated to the goddess Astarte. The Temple of Eshmun podium inscriptions, uncovered between 1900 and 1922, are conventionally divided into two groups. The inscriptions of the first group, known as KAI 15, commemorate building activities at the sanctuary and attribute the works to Bodashtart. The second group, designated KAI 16, was carved on podium restoration blocks; these inscriptions credit both Bodashtart and his son Yatonmilk with the construction project and emphasise Yatonmilk’s legitimacy as heir. The most recently identified inscription as of 2020 was discovered in the 1970s on the bank of the Bostrenos River, not far from the Temple of Eshmun. It records the construction of water canals supplying the sanctuary and dates to the seventh year of Bodashtart’s reign.

Three of Bodashtart’s Temple of Eshmun inscriptions remain in situ; the others are housed in museums in Paris, Istanbul, and Beirut. Bodashtart is attested as having reigned for at least seven years, as indicated by the inscription discovered on the bank of the Bostrenos River. Beyond the evidence provided by his dedicatory inscriptions, little is known about his reign. (Full article...)

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... that the 2nd-century BC Aramaic inscription of Yanouh is the first attested use of Aramaic as a public language in Mount Lebanon?
... that the Mseilha Fort is strategically located to overlook the crossing of the Jaouz River near Ras ash-Shaq'a, a promontory in Lebanon?
... that the European population of the rare Lebanese wild apple is mainly concentrated in a single national park, 58 percent of which was burnt by extreme wildfires in 2023?
... that Reine Abbas chose the name Wixel Studios, a blend of "Weird Pixel", in recognition of being one of the only gaming studios in Lebanon?
... that the cedar tree on the Lebanese flag is mentioned 103 times in the Bible?
... that code-switching in Lebanon is so common that "hi, كيفك؟ Ça va ?", which combines English, Levantine Arabic and French, is a typical greeting?

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Lebanese cuisine comprises the culinary traditions and practices originating from Lebanon. It includes an abundance of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fresh fish and seafood. Poultry is eaten more often than red meat, and when red meat is eaten, it is usually lamb and goat meat. Dishes include copious amounts of garlic and olive oil, and are often seasoned with salt and lemon juice. Chickpeas and parsley are also staples of the Lebanese diet.

Well-known dishes include baba ghanouj, tabbouleh, sfeeha, falafel and shawarma. An important component of many Lebanese meals is hummus, a chickpea puree, and many dishes are eaten with flatbread. A plate of vegetables including tomatoes, cucumber, mint, olives and pickles is always served on the table, and a plate of fruits at the end of the meal with a Lebanese coffee. Well-known desserts include baklawa, sfouf and ka'ak. Some desserts are specifically prepared on special occasions; for example, meghli (rice pudding dessert, spiced with anise, caraway, and cinnamon) is served to celebrate a newborn baby in the family.

Arak is an anise-flavoured liquor and is the Lebanese national drink, usually served with a traditional Lebanese meal. Another historic and traditional drink is Lebanese wine. (Full article...)

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General images

The following are images from various Lebanon-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Protesters in Beirut. Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, 20 October 2019 (from History of Lebanon)
Image 2Lebanon Parliament 2018 (from Politics of Lebanon)
Image 3A selection of Lebanese dishes from Cafe Nouf Restaurant in London (from Culture of Lebanon)
Image 4City of Zahlé at the eastern edge of the Mount Lebanon Range in eastern Lebanon (from Culture of Lebanon)
Image 5Gibran Khalil Gibran Garden and surroundings in Beirut Central District, Majidiye, Beirut (from Culture of Lebanon)
Image 6Flag as drawn and approved by the members of the Lebanese parliament during the declaration of independence in 1943 (from History of Lebanon)
Image 7Beirut in 1950 (from History of Lebanon)
Image 8An array of Lebanese cuisine. (from Culture of Lebanon)
Image 9The funeral of the assassinated Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri (from History of Lebanon)
Image 10Portrait of Elie Hobeika (from History of Lebanon)
Image 11Sidewalk Cafes are a trademark of the BCD (from Culture of Lebanon)
Image 12Rue Maarad is a main street in the central district (from Culture of Lebanon)
Image 13A map of Mount Lebanon c. AD 1180 (from History of Lebanon)
Image 14Palm trees at the seafront in Corniche Beirut (from Culture of Lebanon)
Image 15Bashir Shihab II (from History of Lebanon)
Image 16Anti-Syrian protesters heading to Martyrs' Square in Beirut on foot and in vehicles, 13 March 2005 (from History of Lebanon)
Image 17Aftermath of the 4 August 2020 Beirut explosion (from History of Lebanon)
Image 18Aerial photo of Beirut, Lebanon's capital (from Culture of Lebanon)
Image 19Aftermath of the October 2024 Bachoura airstrike in central Beirut (from History of Lebanon)
Image 20The Grand Serail, also known as the Government Palace, is the headquarters of the prime minister of Lebanon (from Politics of Lebanon)
Image 21Beiteddine Palace, venue of the Beiteddine Festival (from Culture of Lebanon)
Image 22Map showing power balance in Lebanon, 1983: Green – controlled by Syria, purple – controlled by Christian groups, yellow – controlled by Israel, blue – controlled by the United Nations (from History of Lebanon)
Image 23The Green Line that separated West and East Beirut, 1982 (from History of Lebanon)
Image 24Map of the Shebaa farms (from History of Lebanon)
Image 25Christian Church and Druze Khalwa in Shuf Mountains: Historically; the Druzes and the Christians in the Shuf Mountains lived in complete harmony. (from History of Lebanon)
Image 26Csontváry Kosztka, Tivadar - Pilgrimage to the Cedars of Lebanon (from Culture of Lebanon)
Image 27Khalil Gibran (April 1913) (from Culture of Lebanon)
Image 28Map showing power balance in Lebanon, 1976:
Dark Green – controlled by Syria;
Purple – controlled by Maronite groups;
Light Green – controlled by Palestinian militias (from History of Lebanon)
Image 29Fairuz playing guitar (from Culture of Lebanon)
Image 30A building in Ghazieh, near Sidon, bombed by the Israeli Air Force (IAF), 20 July 2006 (from History of Lebanon)
Image 31Portrait of Fakhreddine while he was in Tuscany, stating "Faccardino grand emir dei Drusi" translated as "Fakhreddine: great emir of the Druze" (from History of Lebanon)
Image 32Fakhreddine II (from History of Lebanon)