From clearly Arabic origin, the name is composed of two Arabic names “Nahr”, meaning river, and “Dahab” meaning Gold; exact translation: River of Gold
1st explanation: Refers to the lucid, pure river, as in Lebanese dialect, good things are described to be “like gold - مثل الدهب”.
2nd explanation: the river is surrounded by tall sycamore trees; in autumn the leaves of the trees turn golden yellow and fall, thus making it the “Golden River”.
Old houses (El-Byut) in Jabal Moussa: considered as representatives of the vernacular architecture, three old houses form a small village at the mountain summits, at one-hour walk from the nearest inhabited village. Records of the presence of the old houses go back to 1779; they were completely abandoned in the 1960’s.
Roman Stairs, inside Jabal Moussa
Hadrian's Inscription
Ancient Grape Press
Two entrances to Jabal Moussa Reserve in Mchati, a neighborhood of Nahr ed Dahab