Baal-bec, or Balbec, is supposed by many to be the same as Baal-ath,
built by Solomon in Lebanon, as mentioned in the eighth chapter of the
second book of Chronicles. Its magnificent ruins are described by Mr.
Bruce as even surpassing what he had seen at Palmyra. He was
particularly struck by the splendid vestiges of the great temple,
supposed to have been dedicated to the sun. The castle of Balbec, or
tower of Lebanon, is described by Leander, a Carmelite monk, in his
interesting travels, as a surprising monument of antiquity, built
according to the tradition of the natives, by Solomon. His relation is
as follows. “Balbec is distant from Damascus, toward the north, about
fifty miles, and on the southern side is watered by springs and
rivulets, brought thither, no doubt, to fill the ditches by which it was
to have been surrounded for defense, but which were not completed. It is
situated on the lofty summit of a hill, in approaching which the façade
of the castle is seen, having two towers at its right angles, between
which is a great portico, resembling the mouth of a vast cave, and
provided with very strong walls. That on the right hand, by which the
portico is attached to the tower, from the west to the north, is
composed of four stones only, the fifth, which was to have completed the
fabric, being deficient. The length of each of these stones is not less
than sixty-two feet, and their breadth and hight thirteen. They are so
artfully brought together, without any cement, that they appear to be
only one solid block. The remainder of the wall to the left is of hewn
stones, well cemented with quick-lime, the smallest of which are six
feet in length, and four feet and six inches in hight: there are many
which are upward of fifteen feet in length, but the hight of all of them
is the same.
“Having entered the cavern by the grand portico, the traveler proceeds
in obscurity to the distance of eighteen paces, when he at length
perceives a ray of light proceeding from the aperture of the door which
conducts to the center. At each of the sides, and within this grand
portico, is a flight of stone steps which leads to the subterraneous
prisons. Their aspect is horrid, and they were formerly dangerous, being
frequented by banditti and robbers, who would plunder, kill, and here
bury such wretched travelers as were imprudently led by their curiosity
to penetrate, and risk the descent without being well escorted.
Following the road above, by the cavern, to the extent of fifty paces,
an ample area of a spherical figure presents itself, surrounded by
majestic columns of granite, some of them of a single piece, and others
formed of two pieces, the whole of them of so large a dimension, that
two men can with difficulty girt them. They are of the Ionic order of
architecture, and are placed on bases of the same stone, at such
distances from each other that a coach and six might commodiously turn
between them. They support a flat tower or roof, from which projects a
cornice wrought with figures of matchless workmanship: these rise above
the capitals with so nice an union, that the eye can not distinguish the
place where they are joined. At the present time the greater part of
this colonnade is destroyed, the western part alone remaining perfect
and upright. This fabric has an elevation of five hundred feet, and is
four hundred feet in length. In its exterior, and behind, it is flanked
by two other towers similar to those of the first façade, the whole
projecting from the wall, which within is provided with loop-holes, to
keep off the enemy, in case of necessity, by the means of stones, fire,
&c. It also surrounds the colonnade, more particularly in the part which
looks toward the east. At the left flank rises a temple, which tradition
says was the hall of audience of Solomon, in hight at least eighty feet,
and long and large in proportion. Its stones are all sculptured with
bass-reliefs, similar to those which ornament Trajan’s column at Rome,
representing many triumphs and naval engagements. Several of these
bass-reliefs have been defaced by the Saracens, who are the decided
enemies of all sculptures. Without this grand hall is an avenue of the
same size and breadth, where the traveler admires a large portal
constructed with three stones only, attached to which, in the middle
part, serving as an architrave, is seen, in a garland of laurel
interwoven with flowers, a large eagle admirably sculptured in
bass-relief. At the sides of the portal are placed two columns, in one
of which, although formed of a single stone, is a winding staircase by
which to ascend to the architrave: the passage is however very narrow.
There is in the vicinity another temple, of an octangular shape, with a
portico of superb architecture, and having three windows on the side
opposite to the former.”
Three times Leander returned to visit this splendid vestige of
antiquity; and on the last of these occasions, being well escorted, he
proceeded to the distance of about a mile, to the foot of the mountains
of Damascus, whence the stones employed in its construction were
brought. He measured the stone which remained there, and which has
already been noticed as having been intended for the fifth in the
construction of the wall: it had been hewn out on all sides, was lying
on the ground, and was simply attached to the rock at the lower part.
Its length and dimensions were such that he could not conceive how it
would have been possible to detach it, and still less with what machines
to move, transport, and raise it to the hight at which other stones are
placed, more especially as the sites, the roads, and the masses of rock
are such, as to exceed in roughness and difficulty whatever the
imagination can picture to itself. In the vicinity of the cave whence
the stones were drawn is a very beautiful sepulcher supported by columns
of porphyry, over which is a dome of the finest symmetry, and of great
beauty.