Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1913-05-16
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Tor the Berlin museums now possess many of the
finest examples of the carvings found there.
Baalbek Is the name of a ruined city OF ancient
Coela-syria. sgnifying the city Of Baal" the sun
god. The was converted by the Creeks
during the Seleucidian dynasty into its Greek
equivalent, Helopolis. II Is situated in latitude
81 degrees, minute north longitude rs degrees
IL minutes east. in the plain OF Ruka's, at the
northern extremity of low range OF bleak hills.
about one mile from the base of Antiiibanon, In
well watered and delightful locality a little
more than 40 miles northwest Of Damascus. II
was once the most magnificent OF Syrian cities.
full of palaces. fountains and beautiful monu-
mentB
These ruins are known as the Acropois 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 so
much carving and such variety as to make ones
first visit bewdering. The temples being built
on nat plain, 1t was important TO raise them
above the surrounding level TO render them more
imposing, and to that end there are vast sub
structures and vaults and passages supporting
the shrines. The most imposing that of the
great Temple of the Sun, which was a rectangu-
lar building 200 feet by 160 having its roof sup.
ported by a perstyle OF 81 Corinthian columns,
10 at each side and 10 at each end. OF these
ak are still standing. The circumference Of
these columns is about 20 feet. and the length
of the shaft about Sc feet; with pedestal capital
and entablature they measure about so feet in
platform on the Acropolis about 900 feet by $50
feet. The main entrance of the temple was on
the east. Here wide flight OF steps led up 10
a 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 Hel.opolls 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 a lofty stylobate. Except the columns
mentioned. little Of the great temple or OF tho
buildings IN front of # 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 u feet thick
South from the great temple Is a smaller
known the Temple of Jupiter II In smaller
in form having its peristyIe and the walls of its
cells still mostly standing It's dimensions are
227 feet in length by III feet in breadth with
is columns at the sides and at each end Both
temples well as the surrounding structures
were built of limestone in a richly decorated.
somewhat fantastic Corinthian style Besides
these there stands at distance Of 200 yards from
the others a circular building supported sir
granite columns built in mixed Ionic and Corn-
THAN style
Nearby also are the remains OF the Temple Of
Bacchus. famed for its magnificent carvings.
Here are enormous slabs OF stone deliberately
and interviewer with floral designs the whole
forming unique ceiling The portal is he gem
Of the entire edifce. The door posts beautE