Baalbek preserves the most impressive ancient ruins in all of Lebanon. Located in the Beqa plain at the foot of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range, Baalbek was the ancient cult center for the triad of deities Baal, Aliyan, and Anat, later identified by the Romans with Jupiter, Mercury, and Venus. Baalbek became a Roman colony under Augustus in 16 BC and it was at this time that construction began on the famous temple of Jupiter.

A major port city 20 miles (30 km) north of Beirut, Byblos is one of the longest continuously-inhabited cities in the world. Known in the Bible as "Gebal," the site is mentioned in connection with construction workers for Solomon's temple (1 Kgs 5:18) and skilled shipbuilders (Ezek 27:9). Excavations were conducted in Byblos by Maurice Dunand from 1928 until 1975, when work was halted by the Lebanese Civil War.

Buried under modern Saida, the ancient ruins of Sidon covered an area of about 40 acres (16 ha). The photo above shows a view of the coastline from the Sea Castle, a Crusader structure built over the entrance to Sidon's northern harbor. Sidon is well known from ancient sources as well as both the Old and New Testaments. Joshua's conquest extended as far as this area (Josh 11:8), but because Asher failed to drive out the inhabitants, the Israelites later succumbed to worshiping the gods of Sidon (Judg 1:31; 10:6). The city did not fare well in the prophetic writings, for it was condemned by Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Joel (Isa 23:2-12; Jer 47:4; Ezek 28:21-22; Joel 3:4). Jesus later visited the area when seeking refuge from Jewish crowds (Matt 15:21). Paul spent a little time here with friends while en route to prison in Rome (Acts 27:3).

Inscriptions spanning more than 3,000 years cover the limestone cliffs along the Nahr el-Kalb, or the Dog River, 5 miles (8 km) north of Beirut. The stelae commemorate military campaigns, construction projects, and significant events in history. The inscriptions represent seven languages and scripts. Of the 22 stelae, the earliest one dates to the reign of Ramses II in 1276 BC. The photo above shows inscriptions from the Assyrian campaigns, Napoleon III (far left), and the British Desert Mountain Corps in World War I (top).

Three cedar forests are protected today within the Esh-Shouf Cedar Reserve. The Cedar of Lebanon (cedrus libani) was prized in the ancient world, being imported to Egypt as early as the 4th dynasty (ca. 2600 BC). The Egyptian Tale of Wen-Amun, from the 11th century BC, describes the adventures of an Egyptian diplomat on his quest to Byblos to negotiate for cedar wood. Famous in the Bible for its use in the construction of Solomon's temple and palace (2 Chr 2:3-8), cedar was a symbol of strength and security (Pss 29:5; 92:12). The trees can reach a height of 100 feet (30 m) and a diameter of 6 feet (2 m) and they may live up to 2,000–3,000 years.

The widow of Zarephath was prepared to eat her last meal with her son when Elijah appeared and provided bottomless jars of flour and oil (1 Kgs 17:8-24; cf. Luke 4:26). The name of Zarephath is preserved today in the modern Sarafand, located midway between Tyre and Sidon. The view above shows the area of the ancient Phoenician harbor. The nearby tell was excavated by James B. Pritchard on behalf of the University of Pennsylvania in 1969-1972 and 1974.