RUINS OF OXK OP THK ^[{)SOUl•;S AT I'.AAI.UKK. P.UII.T OT AXCIKXT MATKKIAI.S 1-KO.M 



THK Tlv.MI'I.KS 



Although the population of Baalbek now numbers only aliout s.ooo. it was in tlic middle 

 ages a flourishing and well fortified Moslem city, which was visited and described by tlie 

 Arab geographer Abulfeda. Prince of Hama (see page 109). The mosque shown above 

 probably dates from the reign of Sultan Kalaun (1282). So well fortified was i'.aalbck that, 

 while the Crusaders raided the valley several times, they never succeeded in taking the city. 



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