BILBES, a town of lower Egypt, on the eastern arm of the Nile, 36m. N.N.E. of Cairo by rail. The Coptic name, Phelbes, seems derived from Egyptian, but nothing is known of the place before mediaeval times. Considered the bulwark of the kingdom on that side, Bilbes was strongly fortified by the Mohammedans. In 1163-64 it was besieged for three months by the crusaders under Amalric, and in 1168 was captured and pillaged by another army of crusaders. Napoleon in 1798 ordered the restoration of the fortifications, but they have again fallen into decay.