DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11789#0180
170
VILLAGE OP BALBEC.
their original place, having been used by the Sara-
cens for the construction of a mosque in the vi-
cinity. It is probable, that the pillars of granite
formed a part of the original edifice or edifices of
Balbec, the building of which vague tradition
ascribes to Solomon;—some, however, suppose that
it may have been erected by one of the earlier
Phoenician kings. There appear also,to have been
a number of pillars of porphyry, as fragments of
columns of this material are found in different
places.
The village of Balbec, as it is commonly called,
consists of a collection of miserable-looking dwell-
ings, situated principally to the south and south-
west of the circular building.(/)
The reader is not to imagine that what I have
mentioned, constitutes all, or nearly all worth see-
ing at Balbec; for not to speak of the immense
number of fallen columns and fragments which are
everywhere strown in the vicinity of the two tem-
ples, there are many other interesting remains
both within and without the city walls, which the
limits of this brief description do not permit me to
notice. I must not, however, omit to speak of one
remarkable stone which has been hewn almost to
its perfect shape, though it is still lying in the
VILLAGE OP BALBEC.
their original place, having been used by the Sara-
cens for the construction of a mosque in the vi-
cinity. It is probable, that the pillars of granite
formed a part of the original edifice or edifices of
Balbec, the building of which vague tradition
ascribes to Solomon;—some, however, suppose that
it may have been erected by one of the earlier
Phoenician kings. There appear also,to have been
a number of pillars of porphyry, as fragments of
columns of this material are found in different
places.
The village of Balbec, as it is commonly called,
consists of a collection of miserable-looking dwell-
ings, situated principally to the south and south-
west of the circular building.(/)
The reader is not to imagine that what I have
mentioned, constitutes all, or nearly all worth see-
ing at Balbec; for not to speak of the immense
number of fallen columns and fragments which are
everywhere strown in the vicinity of the two tem-
ples, there are many other interesting remains
both within and without the city walls, which the
limits of this brief description do not permit me to
notice. I must not, however, omit to speak of one
remarkable stone which has been hewn almost to
its perfect shape, though it is still lying in the