KILME
A difficult
place to find!
Beiroet is
followed by ki-il-me-e in the list of Esarhaddon when he describes the place of
the kingdom of Sidon in 676 BC. Some authors identify
it either with al-Qalamoun, 10 km southwest of Tripoli , or with Kalmin, 4 km east-northeast
of Batrun. Both suggestions disturb the order in the list of Esarhaddon.
Although the names Qalamun and Kalmin show a similarity with Kilme, those
suggestions had to be rejected according to the order of the Esarhaddon list.
Especially concerning al-Qalamoun I have my doubts. The list of Esarhaddon is
not holy. There can be a mistaken made by the scribe of Esarhaddon. El-Qalamoun
is called by the Crusaders Kalamon(t) and that looks very close to Kilme.
Another approach
is to look at what Strabo has to say. He mentions a mountain Klimax, which
looks like Kilme also and that must be in the vicinity of Byblos . This mountain can be located between Byblos and the
Adonis-river (Nahr Ibrahim) or between Palaebyblos and the Lycus-river (Nahr el
Kelb). Mount Klimax
has long been identified with the promontory Ras al-M’emeltayn closing the Bay of Gunye
(Djounié) from the north. The arch of a Roman bridge can still be seen close to
the Nahr al-M’emeltayn (Nahr el-Ma’amiltein) and the Passus Pagani (Pass of the
countrymen) of the Crusaders has been located there. A creek to the northwest
of the river’s mouth allows fishermen to moor their boats.
It is
uncertain whether Klimax has to regarded as a purely Greek designation of the
mountain or as an adaption of a local name. The second alternative is more
likely and the town of Kilme
should therefore be located in this area. It fits better in the list of
Esarhaddon. It can not correspond to Palaebyblos which is mentioned likewise by
Strabo (Geography XVI 2,1), also by Pliny (NH V 78), and appears as Balbyblos
on the Peutinger Table and as Alcobile in the Bordeaux
itinerary, where Byblos
itself is missing.
Palaebyblos
has to be situated at the Bay
of Gunye , either at Gunye
itself, called Iunia by William of Tyre or at Sarba, in the most protected area
of the bay. The borough Sarba, located on a hill (alt.70m), has a monastery
built in the ruins of a large Roman temple, which overlooked the bay and
probably was the site of the Crusaders’ castle Sorbe as well.
Both places
(Saba + Gunye) yielded monuments of the Roman
period, but no further archaeological research was done in the densely
populated area.
Kilme must
be closer to the Ras al-M’emeltayn and might therefore be identified either
with the village
of Gazir , built on a hill
(alt.380m) where it dominates the coastal road, or on the coastal road itself.
The latter
location is preferable if Kalamos, mentioned by classical authors, is identical
with Kilme. In fact, the name Kalamos suggests an area grown with reeds.
Relating Antiochus III’s Syrian campaign in 218 BC, Polybius describes the
military operations in the coastal area of Beirut , as follows:
“V 68,8-9:After
this, he [Antiochus III] advanced by the promontory called Theouprosopon and
reached Berytus, having occupied Botrys on his way and burnt Trieres and
Calamus. From here he sent on Nicharchus and Theodotus with orders to occupy
the difficult passes near the river Lycus, and after resting his army advanced
himself and encamped near the river Damuras, his admiral Diognetus coasting
along parallel to him.”
The text of
Polybius thus locates Trieres, Calamus, and the Nahr al-Kelb between Batrun and
Beirut . This
confirmed by the Antonini Placentini Itinerarium, which mentions Triari between
Byblos and
Berut.
As a
consequence, both Trieres and Calamus have to situated between Byblos and the mouth of
the Nahr al-Kelb. If Calamus is Kilme and corresponds to a site near Gazir, as
suggested above, Trieres should be located on a coastal road and identified
with Tabarga or Berga.
Although
the evidence is not waterproof, it is quite probable that Kilme has been found.
Lipinski needs another two pages to convince us, but the evidence stays
incomplete.
There is
increasing evidence, but not fully. Conclusion: we are not certain.
See:
Itinerary Phoenicia .
E.Lipinski. Leuven OLA 90 St.Phoen. XVIII.
2008. Slightly adapted and shortened.
ncfps
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