The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-04-26

prepared by the National Geographic
Societyf Washington. d. CO.
Famous ruins and historic relics have
been shifted under new flags by the
World war Just as have places Of more
practical and less sentimental value.
And SO It happens that the magnificent
ruins Of Baalbek, the HellopOlis Of the
GraecO-R Roman world and once the
greatest city Of Syria, are now under
the administration Of the French.
French authority Ia the latest Of many
national Influences to be exercised over
these wOrld-famOus ruins.
Not many centuries after the Roman
Empire crushed and multiple states
rose In Its place, the Arabs captured
Baalbek. The great temple had been
turned into Christian church In the
days Of Constantine. Now 1t was in
turn changed into a mosque Tanner
tame pillaged the old temple site. Later
came the Turks, and 1t was under their
regime that the Western world first
learned Of the stately ruins. Even
German influence was exerted on the
place, for under the Turks German
psychologists excavated and partially
restored the temples.
The Baalbek temples are not minor
ruins. Unexpectedly to most observers
they take one palm from Egypt's pyra-
mlds; for in the walls ut Baalbek are
the largest stones ever used by man
In erecting a structure-great mono
litiss larger than freight car.
These ruins, properly speaking, are
known as Ell Kalla (Citadel) and are
composed of only two temples, and
they do not cover large area when
compared with other ruins In Syria.
The Great Temple, or the Temple
Of Jupiter. as It is called, had its main
entrance from the East Here a wide
flight Of steps led up to the propylaea.
or yestibule. 10 feet above the gardens
and orchards that now surround the
ruins. This portic0 was open to the
east the full width of the stairs, and
the wOrshipers used to enter between
rows Of columns. on the bases Of three
Of which are Inscriptions stating that
the temple was erected to the great
gods" Of Heiiopolis BY Antoninus and
Caracalla. At an early period the
Arabs converted these temples into =
fortress, and to q certain extent re-
modelled them. The columns mentioned
were removed, the staircase taken up,
and the material used to construct 4
oolid wall where the columns had been.
Arabs Blocked This Entrance.
Next came the hexagonal f0recOurt.
entrance into which was made by
means Of q central doorway. with \
smaller one ON each side. This small
court was surrounded by a cOlonnade,
and ON four at the six sides by exeirae,
porticos with stone seats. The Arabs
have also blocked this three-fold en-
trance and converted the exedrae into
Notifications, filllng them with brick
masonry.
After the visit Of the former German
emperor to these ruins, In 1893. u body
ef German excavators was sent to
RNalhek. and worked there from 1901
to 1904. They not only dug down and
removed the debris. but strengthened
weak parts. ard. where necessary, they
removed the Arabic work so rs to
make the original plan more easily
comprehensive to the visitor.
The wOrkmen built narrow stair.
case where the broad old one used
to be, tore away the wall constructed
over the bases of the column, and
opened an entrance through a great
h.ock Of stone which was placed across
the central doorway into the forecOurt
SO that today visitors enter as did the
ROmqn wOrshipers of old.
Proceeding inward one passes
through triple entrance into the
great court. or court Of the altar. II
4. about 44c feet long by $40 feet wide
The ,rentral portal, as well as one Of
the smaller side ones. has fallen In
and the pieces which formed the arches
have been collected and laid together
ON the ground below the place where
they had originally been.
Around this court on three Sides
emitting the west end, where a stair
case led up to the level of the Great
temple, are square and semicirculas
exedrae, each of which contain many
-s.Ac~ l<~ ~&~tuAc ~ vlNlrfs,