Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-04
BaaI Eek.

(LonuOn StauCard.)
Baal 'Bck, the city Of the sun god, lie
at the foot of Anti-Lebanon. In Orde
10 reach 1t you must ride many miles owe
bare brown plain. across ridges hOarl
with olive and green with mulberry, be
tween massive hills streaked like thl
zebra. Suddenly ont of the silent fleld
spring mighty walls and pillars-gilntl
who lift their heads into the amber sky
The sight Of these superhuman columns
beside which the tallest trees look Xix,
blades OF grass, fills one with amaze
ment It IS not alone their size anC
strength and beauty that inspire wonder
but their very existence in such 4 soil
tude. far from the track of mankind. We
OF the nineteenth century-meek depe nd
ents or rail and steam-are so in tho
habit OF associating cities with modern
means and communication, that we are
asl0nlsheo az tie pr sence OF massive
ruins In the heart of Il valley remote
from river and sea.
As we draw near our wonder grows
for out Of the thick grove, whose dark
branches sweep and moan like a trou-
bled sea around the foot Of imperish hlf
GINS, there rise new walls am
columns, massive, ornate. stately
their heapcd confusion. This is do
pie Of the Sun-a relic of pagan wOl-up
that has looked unmOved on the birth
ana death Of dynasties and faiths. Led
as by some strong cnchantment, we pass
through the grove. whose dark avenues.
" u Nl'NH WIN WttNS. nave tcnOeu Wltn
the Shrieks of the victims Of Baal, Lord
OF the Heavens There, i'm the shadow
or that poplar. may have stood the molten
image the human figure with bulls
mead and outstretched arms, from which
children dropped into the fiery lap. "They
caused their sons and daughters to pass
through the fire. They made them
selves molten images. even two calves.
and made a grove. and wOrshipped all the
hosts Of Heaven. and served Baal" II
70 hsu r,rfs.
with such splendOr OF design and colos-
sal workmanship, yet IL Is beyond dis
pute that these walls have seen the wor-
ship Of Baal, that here incense has been
consumed IN his honor; that his priests,
clothed IN rich Vestments, have trOdden
these paths; that here mothers have
looked on dry-eycd at the sacrifice Of their
children. while the screams of the burn
ing victims were deadened with flute and
drum.
Six columns, graceful and gigantic. car
rying broken frieze-siX columns each
20 feet high and ~ feet in dlameter-arc
an that remain standing OF this marvel OF
Faganlsm. The grove whose tall poplars
lQoh IKE grass growing out of assures in
lHr Ldllen walls, Is silent. There Is no
voice nor any that ansWereth." We
leave The ghostly shade. ana walking
doWn a quiet country lane reach the gate
thit Ieads INTO the temple. a Turkish
guard admits us, and in d moment we are
plunged into the gloom Of a vast vault
IKE passage. The hckerng glare Of
lorches reveals the huge blocks Of stone
tnat shut out air and sky. Emerging
from these vaults. We arrive at the Aero
polls, and wander IN growing amaZement
among me rulnous heaps of stone, so
monstrous IN size. so perfect In shape so
rlch IN carving, IS almost 10 raise doubts
OF their human origin. II f. not that the
runs are or great extent. Those at Kar-
nak-lhmlliar 20 every tourist in Egypt
ana az Palmyra cover a wider area.
Iher strength. the massive simplicity Of
lheir proportions. and the elaborate beau.
~ or their ornament are The things that
move wonder and admiration. and make
every modern palace and cathedral dwin-
ale INTO the insienificance OF paltry and
ephemeral structure. The west wall con-
tans stones each from 60 feet 10 Ct feet
long, Is feet thick. and as many broad.
WHAT Titans hewed and placed these
enormous blocks that Cypress us with
the insigniiicance OF the Church OF 81.
Peter at Rome and the meanLess OF the
Cohsseum? What genius conceived and
what cunning hands wrought the elabO-
rate tracery and embroidery Of frieze
and capital and sculptured architrave?
wherever your steps lead you-thrOugh
the space of the Acropolis, in the Tenn
pie Of Jupiter or in the Temple OF the
Sun-the same marvels OF masonry APP
pear. the same delicate embroidery OF
stone. the same giants Of hewn rock
And the color, The deep orange stain
on wall and pillar "refects the sunsets
or A thousand years.