The Arvada enterprise., 1913-05-08

for the Berlin museums possess many of the
finest examples of the carvings found there
Baalbek is the name of IA ruined city of ancient
Coea.Syria. sgnifynG the city of Baal" the sun
god, The name was converted by the Greeks,
during the Seleucidian dynasty into its Greek
equivalent, Helopolis 1t is situated in latitude
81 degrees, l minute north. longitude 30 degrees,
II minutes east, in the plain of Bukas, at the
northern extremity Of low range Of bleak hills,
about one mile from tho base of AutilihanOn, in
well wnterod and delightful locality a little
more than 40 miles northwest of Damascus. 1t
was once the most magnificent of Syrian cities,
full OF palaces. fountains and beautiful monu.
ments,
These ruins are known the Acropos and are
unique for their massveness and for tho great
amount OF both bold and delicate carving with
which they adorned There Is. indeed so
much carving and such variety to make ones
first visit bewildering The temples being built
a flat plain. II was important to raise them
above the surrounding level to render them more
imposing and to that end there vast sub.
structures and vaults and passages supporting
the shrlnCs. The most imposing was that OF the
great Temple OF the sun, which n rcctauEu-
lar building 300 feet by 100 having its roof sup
ported by n poristyc OF 81 Corinthian columns,
10 at each side and 10 at each end. OF these
six stil standing. The circumference of
these columns is about 22 feet and the length
OF the shaft about 5S feet; with pedestal capital
and entablature they measure. about so feet In
platform on the ACropos about 900 feet by 45O
feet, The main entrance Of the temple
the east Hero a wide flight Of steps led up TO
u 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 Heopolis by
Antoninus.
Beyond tho portlco is hcNoEonal court
through which a large gateway opens into the
great square at the west end Of which is tho
temple lofty stylobatc. Except the columns
mentioned little OF the great temple OF the
buildings in front Of Il is left standing, but the
ground is covered with their ruins Tho vast size
OF the stones used Iu the substucturcs Of the
great platform s remarkable. some Of them being
over GO feet long and l2 feet thick
South from tho great temple is u smaller one
known as the Temple Of Jupiter 1t Is smaller
In form having its pcristylo aud the walls OF It's
cells stlll mostly standing. It's Dimensions are
227 feet I'm length by III feet In brealth. with
15 columns at the Sides and at each end. Both
temples well the surrounding structures
were built OF limestone, I'm a richly decorated,
somewhat fantastic CornthIun style Besides
these there stands at distance OF 800 yards from
the others circular building supported on six
granite columns built In mixed Ionic md CORN.
THAN style,
Nearby also are the remains OF tho Temple OF
Bacchus famed for its magnificent carvings.
Here enormous slabs OF stone elaborntely
carved with the heads OF emperors and dcities
and interviewer with floral designs, the whole
OF the entire ediace The door posts beauti.