danger bade me return into the enclosure. At that moment a beautiful moon was just 
appearing over the hills to the eastward. As I entered the Grand Court, a general silence 
prevailed throughout; even the shepherd’s pipe, which, but a few moments before had 
caught my ear in the plain, had now ceased to be heard. I directed my steps to the more 
perfect Temple, standing in the area below, but the masses of prostrate columns and 
fractured marbles seemed to interdict an approach.” At length, after repeated falls, and 
disturbing a whole host of wild pigeons, he reached the interior. “ One half of the 
building, which is roofless, lay in gloomy shadow, while the moonlight rested softly on the 
upper story of the remainder, and gave a fanciful embellishment to its elaborate sculptures. 
Viewed by day, these beautiful structures, though replete with interest and delight, carry 
with them a mingled feeling of humiliation at the transitory greatness of all human con¬ 
ceptions, and regret that such proud relics of genius should be in the hands of a people 
incapable of appreciating their merits ; and consequently heedless of their complete de¬ 
struction. While by the uncertain light which reigns at this hour, the greater part of 
the deficiencies are supplied by fancy, and the mind is irresistibly carried back to the 
period of their perfect state. ” 1 
1 Robinson’s Travels, ii. 104. 
BAALBEC, LOOKING TOWARDS LEBANON. 
This is the most entire portion of the buildings, but is placed in a much lower horizontal 
plane than the Great Temple; though, on the south side, a subasement has been raised 
considerably from the ground. The view exhibits a portion of the Eastern Portico, and 
also gives some conception of the strength of the columns; in the instance of one which, 
though fallen against the wall, and breaking it in by its weight, has yet remained solid in 
its joints, in consequence of their being fastened by iron pins. Some of those pins were 
evidently a foot long, and a foot in diameter. 
“When we compare,” says Wood, “the ruins of Baalbec with those of many ancient 
cities which we visited in Italy, Greece, Egypt, and in other parts of Asia, we cannot help 
thinking these the remains of the boldest plan we ever saw attempted in architecture. Is 
it not strange then, that the age and undertaker of works, in which stability and duration 
have been so remarkably consulted, should be a matter of such obscurity?” 1 
The inhabitants of the country, Mussulmans, Jews, Christians, all confidently believe 
that Solomon built both Palmyra and Baalbec. But, that the City had both its name and 
worship from Heliopolis (the City of the Sun) in Egypt, we have classical authority. 
“ In the City called Heliopolis, the Assyrians (Syrians) worship the Sun with great pomp, 
under the name of Heliopolitan Jove, and the statue of the god was brought from Egypt.” 2 
The Temple in its early state, was renowned for divination, the express province of Apollo. 
1 Wood and Dawkins, p. 6. Macrob. Saturnalia, lib. 1. 
2 Wood and Dawkins, p. 9. 
