Lebanon, Part IV: Bekka Valley (Syrian border, mystical Aanjar,world renowned Baalbek)

Up into the snow-covered Chouf Mountains...then down into the Bekka Valley near the Syrian border, dotted with Syrian refugee tent camps...

Both the Lebanon and Jordan borders with Syria are now open, and many refugees actually do go back -- at least to visit -- previously illegally, now legally.  Many Lebanese wonder why the Syrians just don't go home and start rebuilding.
Here's one perspective on that. 

In Roman times known for its fertile agricultural land, the Bekka Valley has more recently become known as a center of political and military conflict:  it was the  main base for the Syrian occupation troops until they were expelled in 2005, and it was severely damaged in the 2006 war with Israel.

It is also the location of Aanjar, a UNESCO World Heritage site, discovered by chance in 1949, and unique in Lebanese history as the product of a Muslim sect (Umayyad caliphate) that existed for only less than 50 years in the 8th century (c. 700 CE).  Truly at the crossroads of the so-called "Silk Route", Aanjar had been a trading center with more than 600 shops and stands.

Entrance into archaeological site

The main trading streets were designed with colonnades, porticos and (below) shops with individual entrances.

...and the streets have a thousand  year-old drainage system that still works today...

The  pièce de résistance, though, is the Grand Palace, with throne rooms, private royal quarters, and a secret exit for the caliph to go into the mosque.  I was fascinated learning how the palace was reconstructed, using mathematical computations based on the positioning of the fallen original stones.

If  you look carefully at the wall below, you can see the different eras of reconstruction, based on the type of "mortar" that was used to affix the stones...

And this lawn only grows in winter!

In addition to its proximity to Syria and its Aanjar Archaeological Site, the Bekka Valley has four other claims to fame, all in and around Baalbek.  Currently least significant is that it was once a major marijuana growing and trading region (given the fertile land and high unemployment).

Second, it is home to a significant (Sunni Muslim) Palestinian refugee community. (The Syrian refugee situation is exacerbating the already existing Palestinian refugee situation, for several reasons.)

Third, Baalbek is "headquarters"(though nothing is visible) for the (Shi'a) Hezbollah political party and social welfare organization that is funded to a significant extent by Iran and is in constant armed conflict with Israel against their occupation of Palestine and encroachment on Lebanon. It also has a "frenemy" relationship with the Saudi-funded Sunnis.

Hezbollah followers are martyrs to some and terrorists to others. In this area, their soldiers are considered heroes for having defended Lebanon against Israeli incursions, and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah (pictured below), whose predecessor was killed by the Israelis, is lauded everywhere here. In fact, I heard no one speak against Hezbollah anywhere in Lebanon, and they even have seats in the Lebanese Parliament. 

I can only say that contrary to my expectations, there was no sign of any armed conflict or "terrorism"in Baalbek (or anywhere else I went in Lebanon, for that matter).  There was security (and Hezbollah works closely with the Lebanese Army), but there were no troops in the streets or signs of military control, and passage through security was benign.  Certainly nothing to cause me concern or fear (well, except for once when I heard what turned out to be commonplace fireworks!).

The Baalbek claim to fame is, of course, its incomparable ruins -- also a UNESCO World Heritage site -- an enormous complex of Roman era temples that paid homage to the gods Jupiter, Venus and Mercury, as well as Bacchus.  In fact, the site may be much as 11 thousand years old, and it is truly astonishing!  Here follow just some of the many pictures I took:

Notice how smooth the cut is.  NO TOOLS were ever found!  How did they do that??

Only six columns of Jupiter temple remain and currently are being renovated.

I joked that this was an ancient email message, except that the writer mixed up the abbreviation for In My Humble Opinion!

Guide Khalil pointing out how delicately the eggs (symbol of life) are carved on the stones -- it's lacework in stone, as  there is an opening behind each connecting piece.  (Khalil is considered the most knowledgable guide at Baalbek, except that his English is practically incomprehensible, so we either switched to French, or I remained uninformed!)

Carving of Cleopatra in one stone -- Khalil is pointing out (bottom left) the symbols that identify her.

When dry, mosaic appears lifeless...

...but comes alive when wetted down.

Baalbek has the largest collection of monoliths in the world...

To get a true sense of the size of this boulder, note that those are people on top!

Khalil is pointing out the Greek key pattern ("meander"), from which comes the "swastika" design. 
Until the Nazis hijacked the symbol, it was used  by a variety of civilizations over 3,000 years to represent
 life, sun, power, strength, and good luck.

 Much more of Baalbek could be excavated, but it's unlikely local property owners would be willing.  For example, it's known that there's a Roman theater "across the street" from these ruins, but it's underneath the famous immutable and historical Palmyra Hotel, where the world's rich and famous stayed during its heyday before the civil war.

The Palmyra Hotel has never closed since it opened in 1894...not even during the civil war.  Its owner has been quoted as defiantly asserting, "“No one has a right to touch hotel Palmyra, except for time”.  

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Next chapter:  Chouf Mountains -- Deir Al-Qamar and Bettedine Palace