Berytus Archaeological Site
Ancient Roman name for Beirut, historic port city
The ancient Roman city of Berytus refers to what is now Beirut; visitors interested in archaeology see Roman ruins and museums, while the modern city draws crowds for Levantine cuisine, souks and the Corniche.
Berytus at a Glance#
About Berytus#
Berytus is the ancient Roman name for the city located at the site of present-day Beirut, Lebanon, and was an important urban centre in Roman and Late Antique times. It became especially notable as a centre of legal learning and Roman municipal life.
The city hosted the School of Berytus, a renowned centre for the study of Roman law whose jurists contributed to imperial legal scholarship used in later compilations. Berytus was a prosperous port and regional centre until a major earthquake in 551 AD caused widespread destruction and a long-term decline.
Under Roman rule the city held the status of a municipium and contained public buildings, temples and infrastructure typical of Roman urban centres. Its Roman-era importance left archaeological remains and documentary traces that link the ancient city to modern Beirut.
The archaeological and historical site lies within contemporary Beirut on the eastern Mediterranean coast of Lebanon, at a major historic port location that has been occupied since antiquity.
- Roman law school: The city was an important Roman municipal centre and hosted a renowned law school that influenced later Roman legal compilations; the school and city were severely affected by an earthquake in 551 AD.
Weather & Climate near Berytus#
Berytus's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Mediterranean - Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate with hot summers (peaking in August) and cool winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 10°C to 30°C. Moderate rainfall (820 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Good | 10° - 17° | 14° | 191 mm | partly cloudy | 72% | 3.2 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.1h |
| February | Good | 10° - 18° | 14° | 138 mm | partly cloudy | 71% | 3.5 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 10.9h |
| March | Very Good | 11° - 19° | 15° | 108 mm | partly cloudy | 69% | 3.2 m/s | 1.2 high | 11.9h |
| April | Excellent | 14° - 23° | 18° | 49 mm | some cloud | 65% | 3.4 m/s | 1.6 very high | 12.9h |
| May | Ideal | 17° - 25° | 21° | 14 mm | mostly sunny | 60% | 3.3 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 13.8h |
| June | Ideal | 20° - 28° | 24° | 1 mm | clear | 57% | 3.7 m/s | 2.6 extreme | 14.2h |
| July | Ideal | 22° - 30° | 26° | 0 mm | clear | 59% | 4.1 m/s | 2.6 extreme | 14.0h |
| August | Ideal | 23° - 30° | 27° | 0 mm | clear | 64% | 3.9 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 13.2h |
| September | Ideal | 22° - 30° | 26° | 5 mm | clear | 63% | 3.3 m/s | 1.8 very high | 12.3h |
| October | Ideal | 19° - 27° | 23° | 44 mm | mostly sunny | 62% | 2.8 m/s | 1.1 high | 11.2h |
| November | Very Good | 15° - 23° | 19° | 107 mm | some cloud | 62% | 2.9 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 10.3h |
| December | Good | 12° - 19° | 15° | 163 mm | partly cloudy | 69% | 3.4 m/s | 0.4 low | 9.8h |
