The history of wine in the Kingdom of Byblos during the Late Bronze Age and the Iron Age can be explored through three main textual sources: A letter from Rib-Adda of Byblos to the Pharaoh (EA 84) dated mid-14th century BC, which mentions the maidservant of Ummahnu, responsible for the wine festival in Byblos. The stela of Nebuchadnezzar II (604-562 BC), erected in Nahr el-Kaleb, which includes wine among a list of tributes. The work of Athenaeus, in which Archestratus refers in the mid-4th century BC.to the export of Byblian wine to Greece.

 

These texts collectively provide valuable insights into the wine culture of ancient Byblos.

 

Marc Abou-Abdallah is a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He earned his Ph.D. in Middle Eastern ancient history and languages from La Sorbonne University in Paris in 2010. Since 2011, he has taught at various universities across Canada, Lebanon, and the United States, covering a wide range of topics related to both historical and contemporary history in the Middle East. He has authored several articles and books, including *L’histoire du royaume de Byblos à l’âge du Fer (1080-333)*, published in Studia Phoenicia 22 in 2018. His current research focuses on the ancient history of the Near East, particularly the region of Byblos during the Late Bronze Age. He explores various aspects of ancient history, including diplomacy, geopolitical dimensions, international relationships, wars, and conflicts.

 

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