

Click on image to enlarge The largest ancient stone block, found in Baalbek/Lebanon, at an altitude of approximately 1,170 meters.

Archaeologists documented processing traces and investigated the old dumps of the mining activities, in order to locate datable and stratifiable sherds of pottery and small finds. Archaeologists found out that the monolith �Hajjar al-Hibla� was left in the quarry, because the stone quality of a block�s edge proved to be poor and the monolith could easily be damaged during its transport.



Below the 'Hajjar al-Hibla' and directly beside of it, there is another megalithic stone block, even bigger than the first one: it measures ca. 19,60x6x5,5m. In order to determine the exact height, the trenches should be extended in one of the next archaeological expeditions at the site.

The second block weighs 1,650 tons. Archaeologists concluded that the block was meant to be transported without being cut.

This means, that it is the biggest known ancient stone block.

The history of settlement in the area of Baalbeck, Lebanon dates back about 9,000 years, with almost continual settlement of the tell under the Temple of Jupiter, which was a temple since the pre-Hellenistic era.

After Alexander the Great conquered the Near East in 334 BC, the existing settlement was named Heliopolis (from helios, Greek for sun, and polis, Greek for city.

The gods that were worshipped at the temple � Jupiter, Venus, and Bacchus gods were worshipped in Baalbek/ Heliopolis during the period of Roman rule. It was one of the largest sanctuaries in the empire and contains some of the best preserved Roman ruins in Lebanon.

Original source of press release.

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