Even though the government of Lebanon fell yesterday, my colleague and I were resolute in taking some students all the way to Baalbek to survey the impressive ruins. And once again, I ran into some lions…
Professor Emily O'Dell at Baalbek in Lebanon
The students were given a map of the site, and encouraged to go explore the landscape on their own…they were also provided with old paintings by David Roberts, and different blocks and architectural features to find, in a scavenger hunt of sorts to keep their eyes open for inscriptions, tells, trenches, and temples…
Engraving by John Pye based on a painting by David Roberts
If you look at the image above, you’ll also recognize the same image below…
Emily O'Dell at Baalbek in Lebanon
And lurking behind those columns, is the marvelous temple of Bacchus…which we reached just as a giant rainstorm was also reaching the site…
Emily O'Dell in front of the temple of Bacchus at Baalbek in Lebanon
Students were provided with the painting below by David Roberts, to compare the temple today with the way it was back in the 19th century…
David Roberts rendering of the Bacchus Temple at Baalbek
Inside, we discussed what materials would have been used for the roof, and collectively wished they were still there–since just minutes upon entering, the rain began to descend upon our heads…
Emily O'Dell in the Temple of Bacchus at Baalbek in Lebanon
After a relaxing lunch in town, we got back on the bus, and headed back to Beirut. Little did we know–the next day a spate of kidnappings by armed gunmen would be striking the Beqaa–and Baalbek–forcing the army to send in the troops…
To read more about it, please go here: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2013/Mar-25/211347-army-deploys-in-baalbek-region-after-arsal-labweh-kidnappings.ashx#axzz2Oih1Pn9z
