The Clio messenger., 1916-09-22

x being tourist center. For
mass, the Egyptian temples
lead. For intricacy Of detail the
Indian gopurams surpass. For delicacy
Of design, the TAI Mahal will long hold
the palm. But the ruins at Baalbek
are both impressive and magnificent,
inspiring, satisfying. The pyramid Of
Cheops is child's play compared with
the many-ton entablature which sur
mounts the airy columns of the Temple
Of the Sun. A house can be moved up
a hill, but by what machinery did the
builders of Baalbck poise such a mass
at such a height? asks Maynard Owen
Williams I'm the Christian Herald.
Baalbek is situated at the base of
the Jebel eSh Sherki or Eastern noun
tain, better known to us as the Anti
Lebanon, whose SHOWS sometimes eX-
tend down to the town, itself 1000 feet
above the sea. Numerous springs are
found here, and graceful poplars and
green vegetation stand out in pleasing
contrast with the level brown or pur-
plish tone of the plain.
Fifteen miles away the background
of the picture stretches from 5000
foot Sannin in the south to Dahr ul
Khadib, whose blunt summit is nearly
1000 feet above the sea.
In this charming spot, where nature
must have impressed man with her
grandeur and majesty, he WED with her
in achieving the titanic. AS one stands
beside one Of the fallen pillars, whose
round base towers high above his head,
it seems as though the ambitious build
ers had succeeded. The high coptain-
ing walls shut in the view to center it
on this mighty pile. But as one rides
across the Bika on his way to the
cedars Of Lebanon and looks back on
the ruins, the colossal group becomes
hut tiny gem on natures bosom.
Cain Built First Temple.
Gain Is said to have built the first
temple ut Baalbek. using the mastodon
as his work-animal for transporting
stone. That makes Baalbek rather old.
by the early Phenician period Baalbek
had become, famous as the center of
Baal worship. Since then, the S6eu-
eide, the Romans, the Byzantines and
the Saracens have ruled there. There
is nothing In the ruins that tells the
average tourist the history of these
mighty structures. but Baedekers are
handy IL not cheap, and a Baedeker
and Bible are the prime necessities
of Levantine travel.
Picture that famous church of Paris,
the Madeleine. standing at height of
so feet above level plain, surrounded
by 81 columns nearly eight feet In
diameter, whose bases alone are taller
than a man, and you have some
idea Of the temple to Helios
which gave Hellopolis Its name.
Today only six of the mighty col
umns remain erect, like proud SEN
tinels guarding their fallen brothers.
Each column Is made up OF three
pieces, each % feet In height, making
lip with the cornice total height of
so feet. They are of q tawny shade,
blushing with brighter tint when the
slanting light of sunrise or sunset falls
across their stately height.
Massive Carved cornice.
Michael Nj. About, syrian or Baal-
bek. thus describes the cornice: "The
column is surmounted by n Corinthihn
capital, entablature, frieze and cornice,
magnificently sculptured. The entabla-
ture presents row Of egg patterns
surmounted by consoles with scanthus
leaves, with a number of small lions
md bulls carved on them. Higher up
are tooth patterns and small roses,
then Greek key design. On the UP
per cornice, above each column, there
are some lions heads, with gaping
Jaws, which served as an issue for the
rain water"
The part from the tooth pattern to
the top is only half the total height,
yet when l stood on the ground In
front OF one of these great blocks Of