'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎476] (563/905)

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ANCIENT IMPORTANCE OF BA'ALBEK. [CHAP. XIX.
the distance of 25 feet from each extremity; the space beyond
the innermost, or western, screen probably contained the object
of worship; but the roof of this building, which was particu
larly solid, having fallen, the floor presents a confused mass of
sculptured lozenges, medallions, cornices, and fragments of
canopies, mixed with those of the supporting columns and
pilasters.
Substruction of But the pleasure derived from visiting these magnificent
the temples. S p ec j mens 0 f Roman art is lost in astonishment when the
substruction itself of the monuments is attentively examined.
This probably belongs to a remote period, compared with that
of the upper part. It is formed with massive hewn stones, of
ponderous weight; three of which, near the angle, are more
particularly remarkable for their prodigious size ; the largest
being 67 feet long, 14 feet broad, and 9 feet thick ; and, in the
great quarry, about three-quarters of a mile from the town,
a still more gigantic stone remains, almost separated from the
rock, preparatory to being transported to the building.
Names of the It is unknown by whom, or at what time, the city was
founded. Its Greek name, Heliopolis, has the same significa
tion as the Syriac word Ba'albek (the city of the sun, or of
Ba'al), by which it is now, as in very ancient times, designated.
It is, doubtless, the Ba'alath 1 of Solomon; and it may be on
the site of the palace built for the daughter of Pharaoh. 2 Its
position between Tyre and Palmyra must have rendered it,
anciently, a most important commercial station; and to serve
as such it was, no doubt, originally founded; but when the
trade of the country was diverted into other channels, the
prosperity of the city declined: being at length abandoned,
even the knowledge of its existence was for a long time lost;
and, as was the case with Tadmor, it has only of late been
rescued from oblivion.
The remaining or southern portion of the Pashalik of
Akka includes a part of the coast of Phoenicia, together with
the whole of the provinces of Upper and Lower Galilee: in
1 1 Kings, chap. IX., v. 18; 2 Chrou., chap. VIII., v. 6.
4 Benjamin of Tudela, by A. Asher, vol. I., p. 86.