The San Francisco call., 1907-01-20
By H. C: Ostrander

- HE solemn pyramids, enthroned
upon their golden sands, the all
inspiring grandeur OF Karnak's
mighty sanctuary and the lonely
majesty OF Baalbecs cyclopean wall, all
unexampled wonders Of a bygone age,
find their best expression in the. calm,
grave. questioning face OF the Sphinx.
the symbol through uncounted ages OF
the Great Unknown. the everlasting
question.
What manner OF men were they who
carved these stupendous masses OF
granite from the mountain sides ana
reared aloft such gigantic temples that
the world has never ceased to be
amazed at their contemplation?
Were the ancient Egyptians. Assy-
rlans and Phoenicians familiar with
mechanical forces unknown 20 fle sa-
giReers Of this present and supr - -ly
enlightened age2
These are questions which aeyitably
present themselves 10 the mind of the
observing traveller as he stands for the
first time in the mighty hall OF col
umns .n old Thebes. or gazes, awed and
overwhelmed, upon the colossal foun-
datiOn stones Of Baalbec.,-
That mere brute strength could have
ever raised those huge stone beams OF
the Egyptian temples hundred feet in
the air. or dragged from their rocky
bed the mightiest monoliths ever quar-
ried by the hand OF man. issalmost be-
yond human comprehension; and
through all the ages the greatest minds
Of the known world have puzzled over
this fascinating problem. And still the
Sphinx smiles on and guards his secret!
BaRlbec, the Ghost of Rome
Forty miles inland from the blue
Mediterranean. and surrounded BY the
snow-covered mountains OF Lebanon
lies sBaalbcc, in its DAY the most mag
nifcent OF Syrian cities, full Of marble
palaces. plashing fountains and beauu-
ful monuments. now famous only for
the splendor Of its ruins.
All the ruins OF Rome itself do not
equal in magnifcence that awe-inspir-
ing group of shattered temples. whinA
even TO this day crowns the Acrop0Ita
Of Baalbec. But, marvellous as are the
Roman temples whose broken wallis and
majestic columns still lift themselves
up on these lonely heights they are as
nothing in comps parison with the stu
pendous masses Of masonry composing
the cyclopean outer wall. upon which
the ancient Phoenicians reared their
md =.
The origin OF Baalbec Is lost in the
dim mists OF the ages. Like Damascus,
its beginning is beyond tho reckoning
OF man. According TO the Afoslen
tradition, the city was founded by
Cain. the son OF Adam. after HIS tragic
murder OF Abel It was the Bsal-gad
OF Joshua, and was called By the
Greeks Heliopolis; or the City Of the
Sun
Situated at the junction Of two great
caravan routes-one leading from
Damascus. the solemn and secluded capi-
tai OF Syria, and one from the desert
city OF Palmyra-joining here and con-
tinuing as one route 20 the sea: Baal-
be- was in ancient times a city. OF vast
commercial Importance. Great cara
vans OF camels. laden with the wealth
OF Arabs, Persia, India and far oathay.
stallNed in stately processio hrough
her streets from morn uni ;ht on
their way 70 the waiting .--.leys at
Tripoli; for the Phoenicians were the
first great seafaring people OF history.
often have the splendid streets OF
this Syrian metropolis resounded to the
echo OF martial uproar;- the blast OF the
trumpet: the rumbling OF chariot wheels;
the triumphant shouts OF victorious
srmies-Phoenicians. Assyrians. Greeks,
Romans, ByEantines, Turks and sara
cens-ali have fought and conquered
there. And In later times this fated
city has even known the unspeakable
horrors which ever followed In the foot
steps Of Timour. the Tartar the self
styled ''scOurge OF God@s
But BsAibec hss gone the way. az
other great citaes OF the ancienf
vvorld- Rabylohs Kineveh Tyre qar-
thage. Menlphis ara m ebes ~
critics mi sfff 80 iLs n
did "a $50 ~ II l llli Il ~ y.