The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-05-16
cHFNI1c oV1ueZ4k or nENIZ< oFS1cc1uS

| ~ ~ tne berin museums now possess many Of the
unest examples OF the carvings found there
baalpek Is the name of ruined city of ancient
Sosia'Syrla' ssnifying the "city OF Baal" the sun
goa. Inc name was converted by the Greeks
during the Seleucidian dynasty into its Craak
equivalent, Heliopos, II Is situated in latitude
"a degrees minute north longitude 36 degrees
II minutes east In the plain OF Buka's at the
norsnern extremity OF low range OF bleak hills
ABOUT one mile from the base OF Antilibanon In
/ well wntered and delightful locality. a little
more than 40 miles northwest OF Damascus II
was once the most magnificent OF Syrian cities
tuii OF palaces, fountains and beautiful monu-
ments.
These ruins are known the Acropos and are
unique for their massiveness and for the great
amount OF both bold and delicate carving with
which they are adorned. There is indeed 40
much carving and such variety as to make ones
nrst visit bewilderng. The temples being sx>ns
on a nat plain II was important to raise IN AZ
above the surrounding level 10 render them my
imposing. and to that end there are vast sun
structures and vaults and passages supportins
the shrines. The most imposing was that OF the
great Temple OF the Sun, which was rectangu
lar building 2s0 feet by 100, having its roof sup
ported by a peristyle OF "a Corinthian columns
10 at each side and 10 at each end or these
ak are still standing. The circumference OF
these columns Is about 20 feet and the length
OF the shaft about tS feet with pedestal, capital
and entabature they measure about so feet In
height. The great Temple of the Sun occupied
platform ON the Acropolis about 900 feet by 45O
feet The main entrance Of the temple was ON
the east Here wide flight or steps led IN 10
portico 10 feet above the gardens and orchards
that now surround the ruins. An Inscription ON
the great portico states that the temple was
erected to the Great Gods" OF Heliopolis by
Antoninus
Beyond the portico Is a hexogonal court
through which large gateway opens into the
great square. at the west end OF which is the
temple on lofty stylobate> Except the columns
mentioned little OF the great temple or OF the
buildings In front OF It Is left standing but the
ground Is covered with their ruins The vast size
OF the stones used In the substructures OF the
great platform is remarkable some OF them being
over so feet long and ~ feet thick
South from the great temple Is smaller ona
known as the Temple OF Jupiter II IL smaller
In FORM having It's peristyle and the walIa =, n.
cells stiii mostly standing. Its dImensions are
sYT feet In length by lit feet in breadth. with
10 columns at the sides and az each end Roth
temples as well as the surrounding structures
were ouiit OF limestone. In a richly decorated
somewhat fantastic Corinthian STYLE Resides
these there stands at distance OF 900 wards from
the Others circular building supported ON sIx
granite columns built IN mixed Ionic and CORN.
THAN style ~ N''A
Nearby also are the remains OF the TemnIe NJ
Bacchns. famed for its magnificent carv,ngs
Here are enormous slabs OF stone elahora,oIv
caiVed with the heads OF emperors and deities
anf interviewer with floral designs the whole
iorFing unique ceiling. The portal IA IN. germ
OF 'pe entire edince The door posts are beautI.