Coordinates: 33°53′13″N, 35°30′47″E Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

Beirut (بيروت‎)
Nejmeh Square in Downtown Beirut
Location in the Republic of Lebanon
Coordinates: 33°53′13″N, 35°30′47″E
Governorate	Beirut
Mayor	Abdel Mounim Ariss
Area
- City	7.7 mi² / 19.8 km²
Population (2005)
- City	1,574,397
- Metro	1,792,111
Time zone	+2 (UTC)
- Summer (DST)	+3 (UTC)
Website: City of Beirut

Beirut (بيروت translit: Bayrūt) is the capital, largest city, and chief seaport of Lebanon. It is sometimes referred to by its French name, Beyrouth. There are wide-ranging estimates of Beirut's population, from as low as 938,940 people,^[1] to 1,303,129 people,^[2] to as high as 2,012,000.^[3] The lack of an exact figure is due to the fact that no "comprehensive" population census has been taken in Lebanon since 1932.^[4] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1024x768, 530 KB) Summary A view of Nejmeh Square in Downtown Beirut Photographed by MEA707 Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free... Map of Lebanon from de wiki/CIA World Factbook. ... Lebanon is divided into 6 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah). ... The Governorate of Beirut The Governorate of Beirut is the only Lebanese governorate that consists of one district and one city, Beirut, which is also its capital, and the capital of Lebanon. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... Area is a physical quantity expressing the size of a part of a surface. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... Metropolitan area in Western Tokyo as seen from Tokyo Tower A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large city and its adjacent zone of influence, or of several neighboring cities or towns and adjoining areas, with one or more large cities serving as its hub or... A time zone is a region of the Earth that has adopted the same standard time, usually referred to as the local time. ... ...  Areas that observe daylight saving time  Areas that once observed daylight saving time  Areas that have never observed daylight saving time A 2001 public service announcement for the upcoming turning back of the clocks Daylight saving time (DST), also known as summer time, is a conventional local time adopted by... ... Beirut may refer to: Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon. ... Due to the fact that the Arabic language has a number of phonemes that have no equivalent in English or other European languages, a number of different transliteration methods have been invented to represent certain Arabic characters, due to various conflicting goals. ... In politics, a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has a second meaning based on an alternative sense of capital) is the principal city or town associated with a countrys government. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Port. ...

Beirut is the commercial center of the region and was once called the "Paris of the Middle East" because of its cosmopolitan atmosphere prior to the Lebanese Civil War^[5][6][7][8]. Prior to the Israeli bombings of Beirut's infrastructure in the summer of 2006, and despite the 2005 assassination of the city's chief financial benefactor, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Beirut had undergone major reconstruction in recent years and had been set to host the Jeux de la Francophonie (Francophone Games) in 2009. Beirut has suffered setbacks in recent years, but the city still retains the necessary ingredients for the great rebirth it had planned^{[citation needed]}. City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Location Coordinates Time Zone CET (GMT +1) Administration Country France Region ÃŽle-de-France Department Paris (75) Subdivisions 20 arrondissements Mayor Bertrand Delanoë  (PS) (since 2001) City Statistics Land area¹ 86. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Cosmopolitanism is the idea that all of humanity belongs to a single moral community. ... Combatants Lebanese Front Syrian Army LNM PLO Commanders Bachir Gemayel Dany Chamoun Kamal Jumblatt Yasser Arafat The multi-sided Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990) had its origin in the conflicts and political compromises after the end of Lebanons administration by the Ottoman Empire and was exacerbated by the nation... Rafik Baha ad-Din Hariri — (November 1, 1944 – February 14, 2005), (Arabic: ‎) a self-made billionaire and business tycoon, was the Prime Minister of Lebanon from 1992 to 1998 and again from 2000 until his resignation on 20 October 2004. ... The flag of the Francophonie Games The Jeux de la Francophonie (Francophone Games) are a combination artistic and sports events for French speaking nations, held every four years since 1989, partly as a counterweight to the Commonwealth Games. ...

Beirut was considered as a possible candidate for the 2024 Summer Olympics games. The massive $1.2 billion Sannine Zenith project would have made Lebanon capable of holding the games. This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ...

The city is home to numerous international organizations. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is headquartered in Downtown Beirut while the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) both have regional offices in Beirut covering the Arab world. The Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) is also headquartered in Beirut. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, and social equity. ... The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA or ESCWA) was established in 1973 (then as the UN Economic Commission for Western Asia) to encourage economic cooperation among its member states. ... The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations to deal with labour issues. ... UNESCO logo UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ... Map of Arab League states in dark green with non-Arab areas in light green and Somalia and Djibouti in striped green due to their Arab League membership but non-Arab population. ... The Arab Air Carriers Organization is a regional association of Arab airlines established in 1965 by the League of Arab States (more commonly known as the Arab League). ...

In Travel and Leisure magazine's 'World Best Awards 2006' Beirut was ranked the 9th (out of 10) city in the world, falling just short of New York City and coming ahead of San Francisco. Travel+Leisure Magazine Publisher: American Express Publishing Address: 1120 Avenue of the Americas, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10036 Phone: 212-382-5600 Editor-in-Chief: Nancy Novogrod Executive Editor: Jennifer Barr Design Director: Emily Crawford Managing Editor: Michael S. Cain T+L is the worlds leading travel magazine... Nickname: Big Apple, City that never Sleeps, Gotham Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs The Bronx Brooklyn Manhattan Queens Staten Island Settled 1613 Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area    - City 1,214. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ...

Beirut has both developed and less developed neighborhoods. Its most famous Sunni Muslim neighborhoods are Zarif and Verdun; Saifi Village is its most prominent and expensive residential one. Its most prominent Christian neighborhood (both historic and modern) is Achrafieh^{[citation needed]}. Sunni Islam (Arabic سنّة) is the largest denomination of Islam. ... Achrafieh, (Arabic: الأشرفية; sometimes spelled as Ashrafieh in English), is a part of Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon. ...

History

Originally named Bêrūt "The Wells" by the Phoenicians, the first historical reference to Beirut dates from the 15th century BC, when it is mentioned in a cuneiform tablet that is one of the "Amarna letters." The most ancient settlement was on an island in the river that progressively silted up. The city was known in antiquity as Berytus (see also List of traditional Greek place names); this name was taken in 1934 for the archaeological journal published by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at the American University of Beirut. Phoenician sarcophagus found in Cadiz, Spain; now in Archaeological Museum of Cádiz. ... // Overview Events 1504 BC – 1492 BC -- Egypt conquers Nubia and the Levant. ...   The cuneiform script is one of the earliest known forms of written expression. ... One of the Amarna letters The designation Amarna letters denotes an archive of correspondence, mostly diplomatic, between the Egyptian administration and its representatives in Canaan and Amurru. ... This is a list of traditional Greek place names. ... The American University of Beirut (AUB; Arabic: ‎) is a private, independent, non-sectarian university in Beirut, Lebanon. ...

In 140 BC, the city was taken and destroyed by Diodotus Tryphon in his contest with Antiochus VII Sidetes for the throne of the Seleucid monarchy. Beirut was soon rebuilt on a more regularized Hellenistic plan, renamed Laodicea in Phoenicia (Greek: Λαοδικεια ή του Φοινίκη) or Laodicea in Canaan, in honor of a Seleucid Laodice. The modern city overlies the ancient one and little archaeology had been accomplished until after the end of the civil war in 1991; now large sites in the devastated city center have been opened to archaeological exploration. A dig in 1994 established that one of Beirut's modern streets, Souk Tawile, still follows the lines of an ancient Hellenistic/Roman one. Centuries: 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC - 1st century BC Decades: 190s BC 180s BC 170s BC 160s BC 150s BC - 140s BC - 130s BC 120s BC 110s BC 100s BC 90s BC Years: 145 BC 144 BC 143 BC 142 BC 141 BC - 140 BC - 139 BC 138 BC... Categories: Stub | Seleucid rulers ... Antiochus VII Eumenes, nick-named Sidetes (from Sidon), reigned from 138–129 BC over the Seleucid Empire. ... The Seleucid Empire was one of several political states founded after the death of Alexander the Great, whose generals squabbled over the division of Alexanders empire. ... The term Hellenistic (established by the German historian Johann Gustav Droysen) in the history of the ancient world is used to refer to the shift from a culture dominated by ethnic Greeks, however scattered geographically, to a culture dominated by Greek-speakers of whatever ethnicity, and from the political dominance... In Greek mythology, the name Laodice referred to different people. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Mid-first century BC coins of Berytus bear the head of Tyche, goddess of fortune; on the reverse, the city's symbol appears: a dolphin entwines an anchor. This symbol was taken up by the early printer Aldus Manutius in 15th century Venice. (2nd century BC - 1st century BC - 1st century - other centuries) The 1st century BC starts on January 1, 100 BC and ends on December 31, 1 BC. An alternative name for this century is the last century BC. (2nd millennium BC - 1st millennium BC - 1st millennium AD) Events The Roman... This article is about monetary coins. ... Tyche on the reverse of this coin by Gordian III. In Greek mythology, Tyche (Roman equivalent: Fortuna) was the presiding tutelary deity that governed the fortune and prosperity of a city, its destiny. ... Aldus Manutius (1449/50 - February 6, 1515), the Latin form of Aldo Manuzio (born Teobaldo Mannucci) was the founder of the Aldine Press. ... Venice, (Italian: Venezia, Venetian: Venexia) is the capital of the region of Veneto and the province of the same name in Italy. ...

Under the Romans it was enriched by the dynasty of Herod the Great, then made a colonia, Colonia Iulia Augusta Felix, in the late 1st century AD. Beirut's school of law was widely known at the time. Two of Rome's most famous jurists, Papinian and Ulpian, both natives of Phoenicia, taught at the law school under the Severan emperors. When Justinian assembled his Pandects in the 6th century, a large part of the corpus of laws were derived from these two jurists, and Justinian recognized the school as one of the three official law schools of the empire (533). Within a few years, as the result of a disastrous earthquake (551), the students were transferred to Sidon. Hordos (Hebrew: הוֹרְדוֹס, ; Greek: , ; trad. ... A colonia was a Roman outpost, usually established by veterans of a Roman Legion, who received land as a part of their retirement from the Legions. ... (Redirected from 1st century AD) (1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century - other centuries) The 1st century was that century which lasted from 1 to 99. ... Papinian (Aemilius Papinianus) (died AD 212), was a Roman jurist, magister libellorum and afterwards praetorian prefect under Septimius Severus. ... Domitius Ulpianus, Anglicized as Ulpian, (died 228) was a Roman jurist of Tyrian ancestry. ... Justinian I depicted on one of the famous mosaics of the Basilica of San Vitale. ... Pandects (Lat. ... , Sidon or Saida, (Arabic صيدا Ṣaydā) is the third-largest city in Lebanon. ...

Beirut passed to the Arabs in 635. As a trading centre of the eastern Mediterranean Beirut was overshadowed by Akko during the Middle Ages. From 1110 to 1291 it was in the hands of Crusader lords. No matter who was its nominal overlord, whether Turk or Mamluk, Beirut was ruled locally by Druze emirs. One of these, Fakr ed-Din Maan II, fortified it early in the 17th century, but the Ottomans retook it in 1763 and thenceforth, with the help of Damascus, Beirut successfully broke Akko's monopoly on Syrian maritime trade and for a few years supplanted it as the main trading centre in the region. During the succeeding epoch of rebellion against Ottoman hegemony at Akko under Jezzar and Abdullah pashas, Beirut declined to a small town (population about 10,000), fought over among the Druze, the Turks and the pashas. After Ibrahim Pasha captured Akko in 1832, Beirut began its early modern revival. In 1888 Beirut was made capital of a vilayet in Syria, including the sanjaks Latakia, Tripoli, Beirut, Akko and Bekaa. Beirut became a very cosmopolitan city and had close links with Europe and the United States. Beirut became a centre of missionary activity, which was generally very unsuccessful in conversions (a massacre of Christians in 1860 was the occasion for further European interventions), but did build an impressive education system. This include the Syrian Protestant College, which was established by American missionaries and eventually became the American University of Beirut (AUB). Beirut became the centre of Arab intellectual activity in the 19th century. Provided with water from a British company and gas from a French one, the city thrived on exporting silk grown on nearby Mount Lebanon. After French engineers established a modern harbor (1894) and a rail link across Lebanon to Damascus, and then to Aleppo (1907), much of the trade was carried by French ships to Marseille, and soon French influence in the area exceeded that of any other European power. In 1911 the population mix was reported in the Encyclopædia Britannica as Muslims, 36,000; Christians, 77,000; Jews, 2500; Druze, 400; foreigners, 4100. For other uses, see Arab (disambiguation). ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... Akko (Hebrew עכו; Arabic عكّا ʿAkkā; also, Acre, Accho, Acco, and St. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... The Siege of Antioch, from a medieval miniature painting, during the First Crusade. ... A Mamluk cavalryman, drawn in 1810 A mamluk (Arabic: مملوك (singular), مماليك (plural), owned; also transliterated mameluk, mameluke, or mamluke) was a slave soldier who converted to Islam and served the Muslim caliphs and the Ayyubid sultans during the Middle Ages. ... Druze star The Druze or Druz (also known as Druse; Arabic: derzÄ« or durzÄ« درزي, pl. ... Fakhr-al-Din II also the Great (1572–April 13, 1635) (Arabic: فخر الدين الثاني بن قرقماز) was a Lebanese prince, son of Prince Qurqumaz from the Maan Druze dynasty and Princess Nassab. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Motto: دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) Anthem: Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1680, see: list of territories Capital Söğüt (1299-1326) Bursa (1326-1365) Edirne (1365-1453) Constantinople (Istanbul) (1453-1922) Language(s) Ottoman Turkish Government Monarchy Sultans  - 1281–1326 Osman I  - 1918–1922 Mehmed VI... Damascus at sunset Damascus ( translit: Also commonly: الشام ash-Shām) is the largest city of Syria and is also the capital. ... Ahmed al-Jazzar (Arabic أحمد الجزار, lived 1720-1804) was the ruler of Acre and Galilee during Ottoman rule from 1775 till his death. ... Ibrahim Pasha (Arabic: ابراهيم باشا) ‎ (1789 – 10 November 1848), a 19th century general of Egypt. ... Vilâyet (also eyalet or pashaluk) was the Turkish name for the provinces of the Ottoman Empire. ... Sanjak and Sandjak (other variants: sinjaq, sanjaq) are the most common English transliterations of the Turkish word Sancak, which literally means banner. In Arabic the sanjaks were also called liwas. ... Tripoli (Arabic طرابلس Trablos, academically transliterated Ṭarābulus) is the second-largest city in Lebanon. ... World map showing Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth. ... A missionary is traditionally defined as a propagator of religion who works to convert those outside that community; someone who proselytizes. ... The American University of Beirut (AUB; Arabic: ‎) is a private, independent, non-sectarian university in Beirut, Lebanon. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Silk weaver Silk is a natural protein fibre, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. ... Mount Lebanon, as a geographic designation, is the mountain range that extends across the whole country of Lebanon along about 160 km (100 mi), parallel to the Mediterranean coast and rising to 3,090 m (10,137 ft). ... Damascus at sunset Damascus ( translit: Also commonly: الشام ash-Shām) is the largest city of Syria and is also the capital. ... Old Town viewed from Aleppo Citadel Aleppo (or Halab Arabic: ‎, ) is a city in northern Syria, capital of the Aleppo Governorate. ... City flag Coat of arms Motto: By her great deeds, Marseille shines in the world Location Coordinates Time Zone CET (GMT +1) Administration Country France Region Provence-Alpes-Côte dAzur Department Bouches-du-Rhône (13) Subdivisions 16 arrondissements (in 8 secteurs) Intercommunality Urban Community of Marseille Provence... The Encyclopædia Britannica is a general encyclopedia published by Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. ...

War Damage (2004)

After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire following the First World War, Beirut, along with all of Lebanon was given to the French. The French administration showed great preference for the Christian community, leading to religious strains in the city. Lebanon was given its independence following the Second World War and Beirut became its capital city. Beirut remained the intellectual capital of the Arab world and a major commercial and tourist center until 1975 when a brutal civil war broke out in Lebanon. During most of the war, the city was divided between the largely Muslim west part and the Christian east. The central area of the city, previously the focus of much of the commercial and cultural activities, became a no-man's land. Many of the city's best and brightest inhabitants fled to other countries. In 1983 French and US barracks were bombed, killing 302. Beirut - War Damaged Building in 2004 Taken by Nick Fraser (copyright holder is uploader, hence also gfdl) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Beirut - War Damaged Building in 2004 Taken by Nick Fraser (copyright holder is uploader, hence also gfdl) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Motto: دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) Anthem: Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1680, see: list of territories Capital Söğüt (1299-1326) Bursa (1326-1365) Edirne (1365-1453) Constantinople (Istanbul) (1453-1922) Language(s) Ottoman Turkish Government Monarchy Sultans  - 1281–1326 Osman I  - 1918–1922 Mehmed VI... Combatants Allied Powers: Russian Empire France British Empire Italy Empire of Japan United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary German Empire Ottoman Empire Bulgaria Commanders Nicholas II Aleksei Brusilov Georges Clemenceau Joseph Joffre Ferdinand Foch Herbert Henry Asquith Douglas Haig John Jellicoe Victor Emmanuel III Luigi Cadorna Armando Diaz Woodrow Wilson... Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Combatants Lebanese Front Syrian Army LNM PLO Commanders Bachir Gemayel Dany Chamoun Kamal Jumblatt Yasser Arafat The multi-sided Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990) had its origin in the conflicts and political compromises after the end of Lebanons administration by the Ottoman Empire and was exacerbated by the nation... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 1983 Beirut barracks bombing was a major incident during the Lebanese Civil War. ...

Since the end of the war in 1989, the people of Lebanon have been rebuilding Beirut, and by the start of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict the city had largely regained its status as a tourist, cultural and intellectual center of the Middle East, as well as a center for commerce, fashion, and media. However, some say the city has lost its premier status, due to competition from places like Dubai, Cyprus and Tel Aviv in the fields of tourism, business, fashion, and banking. Reconstruction of downtown Beirut has been largely driven by Solidere, a development company established in 1994 by Hariri. Beirut is home to the international designer Elie Saab, jeweller Robert Moawad, and to some of the most popular and successful satellite television stations, such as LBC, Future TV, New TV and Al-Manar. The city was host to the Asian Basketball Championship and the Asian Football Championship. Beirut also successfully hosted the Miss Europe pageant twice. 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Hezbollah Amal LCP Islamic Courts Union[3]  Israel Commanders Hassan Nasrallah (Secretary General of Hezbollah), veteran Fatah operative Imad Mughniyeh[4] Dan Halutz (CoS), Moshe Kaplinsky[12], Udi Adam (Regional) Strength 600-1,000 active fighters (of 3,000 - 5,000 available and 10,000 reservists) [5] 30,000... Tourists at Oahu island, Hawaii Tourism is the act of travel for predominantly recreational or leisure purposes, and also refers to the provision of services in support of this act. ... Coordinates: Emirate Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Area    - City 4,114 km² Population    - City (2006) 1,241,000[1]  - Density 293. ... Tel-Aviv was founded on empty dunes north of the existing city of Jaffa. ... Statue in Martyr’s Square The Beirut Central District (BCD) is the name given Beirut’s historical and geographical core, the “vibrant financial, commercial, and administrative hub of the country. ... SOLIDERE s. ... Elie Saab (Arabic: إيلي صعب) (born July 4, 1964), sometimes known simply as ES, is a Lebanese fashion designer. ... Artists impression of a Boeing 601 satellite, as configured for digital television transmission by SES Astra Satellite television is television delivered by way of communications satellites, as compared to conventional terrestrial television and cable television. ... Al-Manar (المنــــار; Arabic for The Beacon) is a satellite and terrestrial television station based in Beirut, Lebanon [1]. Al-Manar was launched by Hezbollah in 1991 [2] with funding from Iran [3]. Al-Manar calls itself the station of resistance (qanat al-muqawama), and is instrumental in what Hezbollah calls...

Downtown Beirut

The assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, in 2005 in Beirut shook the entire country. The last Syrian troops withdrew from Beirut on April 26, 2006. It remains to be seen how the current conflict with Israel will affect the city and its future. Beirut - Central Shopping District 2004 Taken by Nick Fraser As copyright holder is uploader this is also gfdl File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Beirut - Central Shopping District 2004 Taken by Nick Fraser As copyright holder is uploader this is also gfdl File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Rafiq Bahaa Edine Hariri (born November, 1944) is a Lebanese billionaire businessman, and was Prime Minister of Lebanon until his resignation on October 20, 2004. ... April 26 is the 116th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (117th in leap years). ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Combatants Israel Lebanon Hezbollah Commanders Dan Halutz (Chief of Staff) Udi Adam (Regional) Michel Sulaiman Hassan Nasrallah (Secretary General) Casualties 12 civilians killed 500 civilians injured [1] 12 soldiers killed 6 soldiers wounded[2] 2 soldiers captured[2][3][4] 1 warship damaged 1 tank destroyed[5] (Israeli media accounts...

Religion

War damage in Downtown Beirut

Beirut is one of the most religiously diverse cities of the Middle East, with Muslims (Sunni and Shi'ite), Christians (Maronite Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholics, Armenian Orthodox, Armenian Catholics, Roman Catholics, Syriacs, Copts, Methodists, Protestants), and Druze all having a significant presence. (Most of the Jews of Beirut emigrated to the United States when the Lebanese Civil War started in 1975, though there are also populations of Lebanese Jews in France and Brazil). Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (3072x2048, 1331 KB) Summary Traces from the Lebanese civil war. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (3072x2048, 1331 KB) Summary Traces from the Lebanese civil war. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Islam (Arabic:  ) is a monotheistic religion based upon the Quran, its principal scripture, whose followers, known as Muslims (مسلم), believe God (Arabic: الله ) sent through revelations to Muhammad. ... Sunni Islam (Arabic سنّة) is the largest denomination of Islam. ... Shia Islam ( Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite or Shiite) is the second largest Islamic denomination; some 20-25% of all Muslims are said to follow a Shia tradition. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Maronites (Marunoye ܡܪܘܢܝܐܶ; in Syriac, Mâruniyya مارونية in Arabic) are members of an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Pope of Rome. ... The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest Christian organization in the world (or third if one sees Protestantism as a single entity). ... The Greek Catholic Church is a Catholic Church of the Eastern Rite. ... The Armenian Apostolic Church, sometimes called the Armenian Orthodox Church is one of the original churches, having separated from the then-still-united Roman Catholic/Byzantine Orthodox church in 506, after the Council of Chalcedon (see Oriental Orthodoxy). ... After the Armenian Apostolic Church, along with the rest of Oriental Orthodoxy formally broke off communion from the Chalcedonian churches, numerous Armenian bishops made attempts to restore communion with the Catholic Church. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Syriac is an Eastern Aramaic language that was once spoken across much of the Fertile Crescent. ... The word Copt signifies the natives of Egypt as a nationality, and in popular common culture in Egypt it is used to specifically signify Christian Egyptians, although its use to mean Egyptian is not unwitnessed. ... The Methodist movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity. ... Protestantism is one of three main groups within Christianity. ... Druze star The Druze or Druz (also known as Druse; Arabic: derzÄ« or durzÄ« درزي, pl. ...

Beirut was torn apart during the Lebanese Civil War and was divided between the Muslim West Beirut and the Christian East. The city today has been reunited and rebuilt, and its Christian-Muslim balance remains, even if it is a precarious balance. Combatants Lebanese Front Syrian Army LNM PLO Commanders Bachir Gemayel Dany Chamoun Kamal Jumblatt Yasser Arafat The multi-sided Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990) had its origin in the conflicts and political compromises after the end of Lebanons administration by the Ottoman Empire and was exacerbated by the nation...

Colleges and universities

There are twenty-one universities in Beirut, including the Lebanese American University (originally, the first women's college in the Middle East), University of Balamand, American University of Beirut, Université de Saint-Joseph, Global University, Haigazian University, Lebanese University, Lebanese International University, Louis Saade University , American University College of Science and Technology, Middle East University, Beirut Arab University, the Near East School of Theology, and the Middle East Canadian Academy of Technology (MECAT). The Lebanese American University is an American institution chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and operating in Lebanon. ... The American University of Beirut (AUB; Arabic: ‎) is a private, independent, non-sectarian university in Beirut, Lebanon. ... Universite de Saint-Joseph is a private higher institute of education founded by the Jesuits in 1875 in Beirut, Lebanon, known for its school of medicine and its hospital, Hôtel-Dieu de France. ... Haigazian University was founded in 1955 in Beirut, Lebanon. ... The Lebanese University is the only public university in Lebanon. ... The Lebanese International University (LIU; Arabic: ‎) was established in April, 2001, as The Bekaa University, with its campus in Bekaa, Al-Khyara, Al Bekaa Al Gharbi, and has since graduated its first Freshman class in June 2002. ... The American University College of Science and Technology (AUST), an educational institute, was established on the 21st of March 1994 under the name of AUC (Decree # 4897), as an external degree program with the State University of New York/Empire State College, New York, USA. It later changed its name... Founded in 1960, Beirut Arab University (BAU) is a private university located in Beirut, Lebanon. ... MECAT (The Middle East Canadian Academy of Technology) is a relatively new institution of higher education in Lebanon. ...

Geography

Pigeon's Rock, Beirut

Backed by the Mount Lebanon mountains, Beirut is situated on a spur where the narrow coastal plain projects into the Mediterranean Sea. Beirut's coast is rather diverse; rocky beaches, sandy shores, and cliffs are situated beside one another. Beirut is located halfway along the Lebanese coastline with Byblos and Tripoli to the North, and Sidon and Tyre to the South. The Lebanon Mountains surround much of Beirut, with Eastern Lebanon behind them. Its location makes it easy to reach from almost any location in Lebanon. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (3028x1987, 2518 KB) Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Beirut Wikipedia:Featured pictures candidates/May-2006 Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/Pigeons Rock Metadata This file... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (3028x1987, 2518 KB) Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Beirut Wikipedia:Featured pictures candidates/May-2006 Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/Pigeons Rock Metadata This file... Mount Lebanon, as a geographic designation, is the mountain range that extends across the whole country of Lebanon along about 160 km (100 mi), parallel to the Mediterranean coast and rising to 3,090 m (10,137 ft). ... Composite satellite image of the Mediterranean Sea. ...

Transportation

The city's airport, situated in the southern suburbs, was previously known as Beirut International Airport; in 2005 it was renamed Rafic Hariri International Airport in honour of the assassinated former prime minister, though many prefer using the old nomenclature^{[citation needed]}. The civilian airport was bombed by the Israeli military in July 2006 and was closed for 2 months. The airport reopened August 17, 2006.^[9] By land, the city has frequent bus connections to other cities in Lebanon and major cities in Syria; the latter are also served by either service or taxis. Buses for northern destinations and Syria leave from Charles Helou Station. Terminal Overview Beirut International Airport is an airport located in Beirut, Lebanon. ... Rafiq Hariri International Airport (also called Beirut International Airport, formerly Chaldea Airport) (IATA: BEY, ICAO: OLBA) (Arabic: مطار رفيق حريري الدولي) located 9 km (5. ... Rafiq Bahaa Edine Hariri (born November, 1944) is a Lebanese billionaire businessman, and was Prime Minister of Lebanon until his resignation on October 20, 2004. ... A low-cost taxi service that works much like a shuttle. ... Taxicab, short forms taxi or cab, is a type of public transport for a single passenger, or small group of passengers, typically for a non-shared ride. ...

Fine Arts

There are hundreds of art galleries in Beirut and it's suburbs. Lebanese people are very involved in art and art production. More than 5000 fine art artists and equal artists working in music, design, architecture, theatre, movie industry, photography and all other forms of art are producing in Lebanon, something that is viewed as the front line of the Middle East's art scene. Every year hundreds of fine artstudents graduate from universities and institutions. Artist Workshops are flourishing all around Lebanon. In Beirut specifically, the art scene is very rich, vibrant and diverse.

Sister cities

• Yerevan, Armenia

Image File history File links Flag_of_Armenia. ... Yerevan (Armenian: ÔµÖ€Õ¥Ö‚Õ¡Õ¶ or ÔµÖ€Ö‡Õ¡Õ¶; sometimes written as Erevan; former names include Erebuni and Erivan) (population: 1,088,300 (2004 estimate) [1]) is the largest city and capital of Armenia. ...

See also

• Beirut International Exhibition & Leisure Center

The Beirut International Exhibition & Leisure Center, frequently referred to as BIEL, is a large multi-purpose facility in downtown Beirut. ...

References

• Linda Jones Hall, Roman Berytus: Beirut in Late Antiquity, 2004.
• Samir Kassir, Histoire de Beyrouth, Fayard 2003.
• Richard Talbert, Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World, (ISBN 0-691-03169-X), p. 69.
• Abe F. March: author of To Beirut and Back - An American in the Middle East (ISBN 1-4241-3853-1) recounts the years shortly before and including the beginning of the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990). He is also listed as an Expert on Israeli-Palestinian ProCon.org

Richard J.A. Talbert (born 1947 in England) is a contemporary British ancient historian on the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he is William Rand Kenan, Jr. ... The Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World is a large-format atlas of ancient Europe, Asia, and North Africa, edited by Richard Talbert. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Beirut

• Municipality of Beirut
• Beirut Hotels Online with Google maps
• Destination Lebanon: Beirut (includes interactive map)
• Forum de Beyrouth
• BIEL
• ESCWA
• Beirut IRC Network Beirut Internet Relay Chat Network
• Beirut National Museum
• American University of Beirut (AUB)
• Beirut Arab University
• Haigazian University
• Lebanese American University (LAU)
• Lebanese International University (LIU)
• (French) Université Libanaise (UL)
• (French) Université Saint-Joseph (USJ)
• Near East School of Theology (NEST)
• Paths to History (interactive archaeological map of Beirut)
• Lebanon Atlas (interactive map of Beirut)
• BloggingBeirut
• Ancient Beirut/Berytus
• Berytus Roman school of law
• Downtown Beirut
• Images of present day Beirut
• The Beirut Green Line 1975-1990
• Civil War 1975 to 1990 & War on Lebanon 2006 Pictures
• Samidoun (Beirut-based NGOs platform)

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Wikimedia Commons logo by Reid Beels The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ...