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(0m - 42 km from Beirut)
The Temple of Eshmoun is situated one kilometer from Sidon, in a lush valley of citrus groves
on the Awwali River. This Phoenician temple was dedicated to the healing god
Eshmoun, and it is the only Phoenician site in Lebanon that has retained more than its foundation stones.
A Unique Phoenician Site in Lebanon
Building was begun at the end of the 7th century B.C. and later additions were made in the following centuries. Thus, many elements near the original temple site were completed long after the Phoenician era, including the Roman period colonnade, mosaics, a nymphaeun, and the foundations of a Byzantine church. All of these buildings testify to the site's lasting importance.
 Legend has it that
Eshmoun was a young man
from Beirut who loved to hunt. The goddess Astarte fell in love with him, but to escape her advances he mutilated himself and died. Not to be outdone, Astarte brought him back to life in the form of a god. It is also said that the village of Qabr Shmoun, near Beirut, still preserves the memory of the young god's tomb.
Known primarily as a god of healing, Eshmoun's death and resurrection also gave him the role
of a fertility god who dies and is reborn annually.
Each Phoenician City State had its own gods; Anti-Eshmoun was one of the favorites of Sidon. The site of his temple must have been chosen because of the nearby water source which was used in the healing rituals. It was the custom to offer statues to the god that bore the names of those who came for healing. The fact that most of these votive pieces depict children suggests that
Eshmoun may have been regarded as the pediatrician of the times.
 During the Persian era, between the 6th and 4th centuries B.C, Sidon was the first Phoenicia City to
be noted for the opulence of its kings, the advanced culture of its intelligentsia and the excellent reputation of its industry. The Persian kings held the kings of Sidon in great regard and granted them many rewards, especially for the Sidonian fleet's active participation on their side during their wars against Egyptians and Greeks.
Eshmoun can he included in a visit to
Sidon, or made an excursion of its own. Visitors with a sense of curiosity will find that several hours are easily filled exploring this ancient Phoenician spa.
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