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Built thousands years ago, Beirut historical past was known on the archeological
level, through minor dis-coveries. It was peace reinstatement in 1991 that enabled
systematic and scientific explo-rations.
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Until
then, Beirut Central District, home of the ancient capital, was destroyed. Its
reconstruction was planned through archeological excavations in 1993, in order
to unveil the hidden wealth of the city.
 A few historical marks:
The city's name had appeared on cuneiform inscriptions dating from the
14th century BC. By the end of the 1st century BC, Beirut became a Roman colony
which persisted up to the Byzantine period. The glory and prestige of the city
were ravaged in 551 AD by a triple catastrophe : an earthquake, an ebb and flow
and a devouring fire.
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En
1110, Beirut fell to the Crusaders and succumbed to the Mameluks conquest in 1291.
Beirut was then subjugated by the Ottomans in 1516 and endured their domination
for 400 years. Awakening after that to the world war I outbreak, the city became
a French colony until 1943, when Lebanon gained its independence.
Today, the different structure remainsrelated to the domineering masters of Beirut
are displayed in Beirut Central District.
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Heritages of History :
Heritages from Roman & Byzantine periods :
1. Located to the left of the Maronite St-George Cathedral, five columns were
discovered in 1963, going back to the Roman epoch.
2. Discovered in 1968-69, behind the street of the Banks, Roman Thermals or public
bath were explored between 1975 and 1997.
3. Located in the heart of the Place de l'Etoile, facing the parliament, 4 columns
with their architrave were found in 1968-69 when "Sa'at al-Abd" (the
Clock Tower) was removed. The mosaics seen today in the square of the National
Museum of Beirut, were found a Byzantine church in Khalde around the fifties.
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Crusader, Mamluke and Ottoman structures:
1. The excavators found remains of the Crusader Castle built near the port
in 1995. This same castle was demolished when development works in the port were
undertaken in 1860.
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2.
The Grand Serail, first built by the Ottomans in 1853, served as a military barracks.
Under the French mandate, it was used as the center of the French governor then
as the Government headquarters. Three years ago, it was the seat of the Interior
Ministry and right now, the Serail is undergoing major restoration works in order
to be once again the Presidency of the Council of Ministers place.
3. Facing the Grand Serail, is the Ottoman Military Hospital. Built in 1860, the
Hospital hosted the Justice Palace under the French mandate and till the 1960s.
Today and after its renovation, the Ottoman monument is the seat of the Council
of Development and Reconstruction (CDR).
4. The Tour de l'Horloge, next to the Serail, was built in 1897 and restored in
1994.
5. The Great al-Omari Mosque was first known as the Saint-Jean Cathedral, built
between 1113 and 1150 by the Crusaders. The Mamluks changed it to become the greatest
Mosque in the city, in 1291.
6. The Islamic traces are also seen in the following edifices : Zawiyat ibn al-Arraq
built in 1517 and found in 1991, Emir Assaf Mosque built on a Byzantine Church
site, Emir Mounzer Mosque built in 1620.
7. Other religious structures : Saint-George Cathedral (Greek-Orthodox) built
in 1767 on Crusaders and Byzantine sites. It was considered the most ancient church
of the city.
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Also
built in the Central District are the Saint-Elie Cathedral, the Capucins Saint-Louis
Church (inaugurated in 1863), the Evangelical Church (built in 1867 to serve the
Protestant community of Beirut) and the Maronite Saint-George Cathedral built
in 1888.
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Today,
Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, is re-establishing its
place in the world community. The Pearl of the Orient
is booming once again. Tourists will definitely not
be deceived by joining work and pleasure.
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