BALBEC, a town of Syria, celebrated for its magnificent ruins. It is delightfully situated at the foot of Anti-Libanus, in that part of the country commonly called Ceelo-Syria. The town is sur rounded by a wall, of about four miles in circumfe rence, according to Pucocke, and the miserable ho vels of the natives form a striking contrast to the ve nerable remains of ancient architecture. The chief object which arrests attention is, the ruins of the Temple of the Sun, which, even in its present di lapidated state, exhibits the magnificence and gran deur of the original design. The principal door-case has been particularly admired for the beauty of the workmanship. The transverse-stone at the top is adorned with the figure of an eagle, most exquisite ly sculptured, holding in his claws a caduceus, and in his beak a large wreath of flowers, which falls down on each side, till it terminates in two genii, or winged figures, which appear as supporters to the eagle. The bird is supposed to be an emblem of the sun, to whom this temple was dedicated; and the two winged figures are supposed to represent the zephyrs, or the air. We must content ourselves with giving a very general account of these interest ing ruins, as it will be impossible to render a minute description intelligible, without the assistance of plates. Referring, therefore, the lovers of the arts to Mr Wood's splendid work on The Ruins of Balbcc, we shall chiefly adopt the account of M. Volney, the latest author who has particularly described these ruins, abridging it as much as is consistent with per spicuity. In entering the principal gate, which faces the mountain on the east, we come into a hexagonal court, which is one hundred and eighty feet in dia meter. This is strewed with broken columns, muti lated capitals, and the remains of entablatures and cornices ; around it is a row of ruined edifices, which display all the ornaments of the richest architecture. On passing through this court, towards the west, Nye enter a large square, three hundred and fifty feet wide, and three hundred and thirty-six in length.
Along each side of this court, runs a sort of gallery, divided into various compartments, seven of which may be reckoned in each of the principal wings. It is not easy to conceive the use of this part of the structure ; but this does not diminish our admiration at the beauty of the pilasters, and the richness of the frize and entablature. Neither is it possible to avoid remarking the singular effect which results from the mixture of the garlands, the large foliage of the ca pitals, and the sculpture of wild plants with which they are every where ornamented. At the west end of this court, stand six enormous Columns, which ap pear to be totally unconnected with the rest of the On a more attentive examination, however, we discover a series of foundations which seem to mark out the peristyle of a grand temple, tc; which these columns belonged. Poeocke supposes that this temple never was finished. We must exa mine them narrowly before we can conceive all the boldness of the elevation, and the richness of their workmanship. Their shafts are twenty-one feet eight in circumference, and fifty-eight feet high, so that the total height, including the entabla ture, is from seventy-one to seventy-two feet. These six pillars are all that now remain of fifty-four.
The southern side of the grand at some distant period, been blocked up to build a smaller one, the peristyle and walls of which are still remaining. This temple presents a side of thirteen. columns, by eight in front, which, like all the rest of the ruins, are of the Corinthian order: their shafts are fifteen feet eight inches in circumference, and forty-four in height. We can form no idea of the roof which formerly covered this temple, except from the fragments which lie scattered amongst the ruins ; these are to be found in the form of lozenges, on which are represented Jupiter seated on his•eagle ; Leda caressing her swan ; Diana with her bow and crescent, &c.