Beirut -the word- comes from the Phoenician word Be’rot, which means “ the wells”. It was a reference to the site’s accessible underground table water.

Yes, it may be hard to imagine nowadays, but our beautiful capital used to be home to numerous wells. 

Which makes us wonder, what went wrong?  These days, we don’t even have tap water sometimes.

Sources : Le Figaro, Encyclopedia Universalis

Text: Margaux Vulliet