Afqa is a village and municipality located in the Byblos District of the Keserwan-Jbeil Governorate, 71 kilometres northeast of Beirut in Lebanon.
The impressive Afqa Grotto – located in a large cliff 200 meters up – is the source and spring of Nahr Ibrahim and spits huge amounts of water, which is most impressive in winter. It is said to be the place where Adonis first met and kissed Astarte (Venus in Roman and Aphrodite in Greek) and where he was subsequently killed by a wild boar dispatched by Astarte’s jealous husband.
Each spring, the river turns red with ‘the blood of Adonis’, which in reality is caused by the water picking up minerals. Depending on the season, you can climb up the steep wall toward the cavern. In summer, the low water level even allows you to explore parts of its tunnels, which cover several kilometers.
Close to the cave, a bit further down, are the remains of a temple, including a shrine, dedicated to Astarte. At last, leaving the ruins while heading down the narrow asphalt road, there is a good spot offering pretty views of the spring and the two old stone arched bridges located at the foot of the waterfall.
