LIB'YANS, people of Libya, a name given by the Greeks to Africa, probably from the name of the people whom they found in possession of the northern part of the continent to the w. of Egypt, and who are believed to have been the Lehabint or Lubin; of the Hebrew Scriptures. These Lubin' seem to have consisted of wandering tribes, sometimes in alliance with Egypt, at others with the Ethiopians. In the time of Canhyses they formed part of the Persian empire. They are mentioned by the prophet Daniel in connection with the Ethiopians and Cusliites. Ilerodotus divided the natives of Africa into two classes, the Libyans and the Ethiopians, one occupying the northern, the other the southern part. But the Romans limited the term Libya to that part of Africa which extended along the Mediterranean from the Greater Syrtis to Egypt, and stretching inland to the deserts. This was the Libya Proper of the New Testament, Acts ii. 10. Lepsius and other Egyptologists suppose that they occupied even Egypt,
until driven out by the Egyptians. who emigrated from Asia. In remote antiquity the people were civilized, and powerful by sea and laud. They often invaded Egypt until their power on the sea was broken by Thothmes III., 1800 B.C.; but by land they continued to harass the Egyptians and desolate the country. In 1400 B.C. they'joined the PeJasgic nations on the northern coasts of the Mediterranean, and, in connection with the Tyrrhenians and Aeheans, they invaded and nearly conquered lower Egypt, under their king Manrinnin, but they were stopped in central Egypt, and defeated by Mimeses II. They were eventually subdued by the Carthaginians, and their country has successfully passed into the hands of the Greeks, Romans, Saracens, and Turks.