Halboun which was mentioned as Chalybon (Greek: Χαλυβάν) by Ptolemy and Strabo, was famous for its fine wine, in which it was considered as a luxury to the Persian kings in the Eber-Nari satrapy of the Achaemenid Empire.
There are several Roman ruins found in Halboun, most famously the inscriptions which date back to the reign of Herod Agrippa II.
J. E. Hanauer wrote in 1909 that the inhabitants of Helbon were reputed to be "foolish", noting that the tales highlighting their silliness closely mirrored those about the residents of Deir es-Sinneh, near Siloam.
