Civilization Template

Chapter 184 Baalbek
After more than two hours of long journey, the bus slowly drove into Baalbek.

Although Lebanon is a country dominated by Christianity, Baalbek is dominated by Arabs and Shiites. It is relatively more conservative and poor, but it has also avoided war.The architecture of the city itself has no distinctive features, but it is very peaceful and quiet.

The ruins of the ancient city of Baalbek are located in the center of Baalbek City, surrounded by residential areas on three sides.A lot of fences were set up around the site to enclose it.

Everyone got off the bus, bought tickets and entered the venue after a short rest.

The scenic area of ​​the ruins does not have a big door face. After entering the door, after walking a short distance, Chen Quan and others saw a rather spectacular large stone steps.

This huge step is to facilitate visitors to climb to the 6-meter-high temple base platform. It was built by the Germans in 1900. Today, they have also become part of history and relics.

Above the steps, there are 12 huge Corinthian pillars facing you.Although most of the pillars have been damaged, and only four are relatively intact, it is still not difficult for people to imagine the splendor and magnificence of the temple 2000 years ago.

After climbing up the platform, it is considered to officially enter the ruins of the temple.

Due to the different religions, the Baalbek people can't talk about meticulous maintenance of these "heresy" sites in the Roman period.Except for very few places, where some fences are set up for protection, in most places, tourists can have zero-distance contact with these relics with a history of tens of thousands of years.

On many boulders and walls, you can even see imprints and graffiti of 'visit here' in different languages ​​from the 18th century and the 19th century.

"No wonder it's called a ruins."

Qu Yanqiu sighed with emotion.

Because wherever the field of vision goes, it is full of ruins.

Under the effect of time, most of the once exquisite and magnificent Roman buildings have degenerated into large and small gravel, except for a few that can still see a trace of the past.

Of course, the size here is relative, because even the smallest stone is more than one meter high.The largest stone is seven or eight meters long.

When people walk into these stones, it is like walking on a giant building block toy, as insignificant as an ant.

"The stones here are much larger than those used in the Egyptian pyramids."

This time even James could spot the anomaly.

Most of the stones seen in Egypt are about two tons, and they have been called giant stones by humans.And there are hundreds of tons of stones everywhere.

"Where we are now, was once the center of the Temple of Jupiter."

Anna was at the front of the line, holding an electric horn to introduce. "Look around, and from the remaining walls, you can still recognize the shadows of many large and small subsidiary temples. Please look to my left, this is."

Driven by her, the slightly disappointed tourists gathered around again.

A lot of scenery, with a guide and without a guide, are completely two feelings.Under Anna's reminder, the messy pile of stones has a new meaning.

The ruins of Baalbek include three temples dedicated to Jupiter, the god of gods, Bacchus, the god of wine, and Venus, the god of love.Among them, the Temple of Bacchus, the God of Bacchus, is the most well-preserved, with a dome supported by thirty giant stone pillars, and many exquisite statues can still be seen on the top.

The Jupiter Temple in the center of the ruins has been destroyed, and only 6 tall porch columns with a height of 19 meters and a diameter of 2.3 meters remain.

"Roman temples are not uncommon in Italy. Why do you go to Lebanon to see them?"

Chen Quan walked with a pair of Italian tourists.

"Different."

Francesco, with all white hair, is an amateur archaeologist. "About 2000 BC, Baalbek has become an important pilgrimage site in the ancient world. The temples built by the Romans here were based on the foundations of their predecessors. Especially these huge stones over one hundred tons are definitely not The technology that the Romans could have. The largest stone that can be used in Roman buildings will not exceed 85 tons."

"Have you noticed this too?"

"Of course. Compared with the long history of mankind, Roman civilization is very young."

"What we see now is the famous and amazing Trilithon"

Anna led the crowd to the stone steps on one side of the temple, pointing to several huge pedestal boulders on the upper side.

"These three stones are 18 meters long, and the height and width have reached an astonishing size of 4 meters."

Anna stood next to the stone and raised her hand high, even though she was standing on tiptoe, her hand was just over half the height of the stone.Driven by her, tourists ran over to take photos with these boulders.

"It's hard to imagine how the ancients moved and lifted such a boulder weighing 800 tons without steel bars," Anna continued. "It's not easy to get these huge stones even in modern society. Due to the existence of these huge stones, there has been a debate about who is the real builder of this temple.

The Arabs 1000 years ago came up with their own version, arguing that Nimrod, the mythical figure who once ruled the region of Lebanon, sent their giants to rebuild these temples after the Great Flood.

Please note that even giants can only be rebuilt.This shows that these megaliths, and the pedestal composed of megaliths we see before our eyes, were built by ancient civilizations before the Great Flood. "

"This tour guide is good." Francesco commented. "She's very knowledgeable."

Perhaps in response to Francesco's compliment, Anna dug out a picture from her purse. "I'm holding a Phoenician coin with a rocket on a launch pad ready to launch.

This ancient rocket launch facility was built on a huge platform, and the Baalbek site happens to be a huge stone platform with an area of ​​500 square feet. "

"Phoenicians? Why did the Phoenicians build a rocket launch platform in Lebanon, so far away?"

Someone among the tourists asked a question.

The Phoenicians are also an important mystery in human history.Because it once established a very powerful country Carthage.Carthage's territory included the western coast of North Africa, southern Spain, most of Sicily, and the huge territories of Corsica, Sardinia, and the Balearic Islands. It was the hegemony of the Mediterranean Sea before Rome.

But after Carthage was finally destroyed by Rome, the Phoenicians and Phoenician civilization completely disappeared from human history.

"This is because today's Lebanese are direct descendants of the Phoenicians." Anna explained.

"Strange." Francesco frowned. "I've never heard anything like that."

"Did you miss it?" Qu Yanqiu comforted. "After all, you are not a professional researcher."

"Although he is not an expert in archaeology, he is a professor of anthropology." Francesco's wife interjected. "It's just backing off now."

"Oh."

Chen Quan and Qu Yanqiu glanced at each other and shrugged.

After visiting the ancient city of Baalbek, the tour group ran to the ancient quarry not far from here.The famous Southern Rock was discovered here.

Although the Southern Boulder has a great reputation and its actual size is indeed not small, the site is very desolate.

This 21.5-meter-long, 4.2-meter-high, and 4.8-meter-wide boulder is inserted obliquely on the ground, with a small half buried in the soil and the other part exposed to the ground alone.

If it weren't for Anna's constant throwing out all kinds of novel and interesting data and allusions, tourists would definitely be extremely disappointed.In the wilderness, it is estimated that most people will not take a second look at it when they drive by.

Chen Quan and Qu Yanqiu slowly climbed up the sloping boulder surface.

"Why can't I see anyone?"

Qu Yanqiu stood at the highest point and looked around. "Didn't we agree to meet at the Southern Boulder?"

"Did you hear it wrong! Is it really here?" Chen Quan also climbed up and looked into the distance. "Why don't you shout twice?"

Around the boulder, apart from the tourists whose curiosity was aroused by Anna, only a group of local children were playing not far away.

"anyone there?"

Qu Yanqiu actually yelled in both Chinese and English, but nothing happened except to attract the attention of the tourists in the same group.
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After coming out of the quarry, lunch was arranged in a unique Arabian restaurant. .

When Chen Quan and others were looking for seats, Anna passed by them. "You two come with me."

"sit down."

Anna led the way into the small private room next to her.There was only one small table that could seat three people in the room, which made Wang Qing and others who followed in had to retreat again.

"I noticed that you have been watching me."

Anna's gentle temperament was gone, replaced by an indescribable sharpness.

"Yes." Qu Yanqiu nodded in agreement. "After all, you are curious. Many people say that you look like me."

"Is it just a resemblance?"

"It's really just that." After Chen Quan and the two looked at each other, they could only perfunctory.

"Then why did you come to Beirut? As far as I know, you are in Egypt, and Cairo still has a lot of things to do."

"Oh? How did you know?" Qu Yanqiu's face changed slightly. "Since you know our origin, I'm afraid you are not a simple tour guide. Who are you?"

"I'm really not an ordinary tour guide."

There was no trace of surprise on Anna's face. "Let me introduce myself, you can call me Minerva, or you can call me Athena."

"Minerva in Roman mythology, Athena in Greek mythology?"

Chen Quan and Qu Yanqiu couldn't keep their mouths shut.

"Yes. They are all me."

Anna's aura suddenly became extremely powerful.

　There are still a few chapters left, which will be updated every other day.busy.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)