Where does “Byblos” come from?
Byblos derives from Latin Byblos, from Ancient Greek Βύβλος, from Phoenician 𐤂𐤁𐤋, itself built on Phoenician 𐤂𐤁, ultimately from Proto-Semitic ʾil-.
Ancestry of “Byblos”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Latin | Byblos | — |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | βύβλος | papyrus; book |
| 3 | Phoenician | 𐤂𐤁𐤋 | — |
| 4 | Phoenician | 𐤀𐤋 | god, deity |
| 5 | Proto-Semitic | ʔil- | deity, god |