Royal Tombs


These nine tombs were cut in impressive vertical shafts deep into the rock in the 2nd millennium BC and discovered after a landslip. Some of the sarcophagi found here are now housed in the National Museum, including that of King Hiram, whose sarcophagus has one of the earliest Phoenician alphabet inscriptions in the world. His grave shaft also is inscribed, this time with the eerie phrase, ‘Warning here, thy death is below’, probably an attempt to scare off tomb robbers.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Roman Theatre

0.02 MILES

To get access to earlier temples beneath it, this 3rd-century AD Roman theatre was moved and reconstructed by the sea cliff in the 1930s. It's one-third…

2. City Ramparts

0.04 MILES

You can begin your tour here by turning left to explore the ruins, which include the remains of city ramparts dating from the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC.

3. Temple of Baalat Gebal

0.05 MILES

The site's oldest temple dates back to the early 3rd millennium BC and was dedicated to the goddess of the city. Destroyed by the Amorites, it was…

4. King's Spring

0.06 MILES

Used at least as far back as the Neolithic period, this spring supplied the city with water until the end of the Hellenistic era (and where, according to…

5. Crusader Castle

0.08 MILES

A restored 12th-century Crusader castle surrounded by a 10m-wide dry moat is located just inside the entrance to Byblos' atmospheric archaeological site…

6. Temple of Resheph

0.08 MILES

This temple dates from the 3rd millennium BC and is thought to have been burned down during the Amorite invasions. It was then replaced with the Temple of…

7. Byblos Archaeological Site

0.09 MILES

A well-restored Crusader castle dominates Byblos' atmospheric archaeological site, which incorporates Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Greek and Roman ruins –…

8. Early Settlements

0.09 MILES

Head to the archaeological complex's most modern building – a rather lovely 19th-century house – to inspect its oldest. Just south of the house, you can…