1. http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/MESO/TIMELINE.HTM Mesopotamian Timeline
Timeline ©WSU,

2. Mesopotamian Timeline Timeline ©WSU, 1993 http://www. wsu
BCE Early Neolithic building mounds
4700 BCE Hassunah period: earliest pottery making culture
4400 BCE Halaf period: pottery culture with knowledge of metal
3900 BCE Ubaid period: first well-known culture from southern Mesopotamia; the Ubaids - first evidence of temple and other sophisticated architecture
3600 BCE Warka period
3400 BCE Gawra and Ninevite periods
2900 BCE Pre-dynastic Sumerians
2750 BCE First Sumerian dynasty of Ur
BCE Akkadian rule in Mesopotamia
BCE Third Sumerian dynasty of Ur
BCE Old Babylonian Period
BCE Assyrian Period
BCE Neo-Babylonian Period
BCE Persian Era

3. Ancient Mesopotamia

4. Early Chalcolithic period
(paleolithic era)
(c )
metal known but not widely used
stone used for tools
WEST MOUND EXCAVATIONS, TURKEY,

5. WEST MOUND EXCAVATIONS, TURKEY. 2000 http://catal. arch. cam. ac

6. WEST MOUND EXCAVATIONS IN 2000 AD http://catal. arch. cam. ac
Arial view
Building 5
Unnamed Building

7. unique horned clay objects, probably ritual in nature
Chacolithic Pottery
CHALCOLITHIC POTTERY FROM THE WEST MOUND EXCAVATIONS

8. Large Basket Handled Pot
CHALCOLITHIC POTTERY FROM THE WEST MOUND EXCAVATIONS
Chacolithic Pottery
Large Basket Handled Pot
Incised Decorated Pottery

9. Plaster Basin/Bowl Chacolithic Pottery
CHALCOLITHIC POTTERY FROM THE WEST MOUND EXCAVATIONS

10. Halaf Period Artifacts
( B.C.,
North Mesopotamia-Syria)

11. Halaf Pottery Plate
from Arpachiyah, upper Mesopotamia. One of many small cultures of Northern Iraq and Turkey that were loosely in communication with each other. Ca B.C. (London: British Museum).

12. Halaf Figurine heavy stone (northern style) sans arms or legs Arpachiya, from upper Tigris, c B.C. (British Museum)

13. Terracotta Halaf female figurine
Chagar Bazar, c B.C • Exaggerated female characteristics - suggesting the object served some religious purpose. • Paint traces - suggesting arm and leg jewelery or decoration and a loin cloth. • Breasts - painted or tattood (British Museum)

14. Al-`Ubaid (6-4th millenium, South Mesopotamia) These people displaced the Halaf culture.

15. Two terracotta female heads, from Tell al-`Ubaid and from. ca. 4500 B
Two terracotta female heads, from Tell al-`Ubaid and from ??. ca B.C.

16. Ubaid terracotta figurine. of a woman suckling a child. (from Ur, c
Ubaid terracotta figurine of a woman suckling a child (from Ur, c B.C.) Ubaid figure style •painted jewelery, body paint or tattoos • protruding eyes •slim figure (in contrast to the North) • elongated head .

17. What do you think?

18. Handmade painted pottery from tombs at Eridu
Dark geometric designs on light ground - Ubaid Levels XVIII-XIV
piece at lower right - early style
(Iraq Museum, Baghdad)
Notice the vivid colors painted on these items.

19. from an Ubaid grave at Erid
Baked clay male figurine
from an Ubaid grave at Erid
Decoration or tattoos from shoulder to shoulder - for men and women
Southern Ubaid figure style
(Iraq Museum, Baghdad)

20. Pots from al `Ubaid type - typical of last phase of Ubaid pottery
(British Museum, UK),

21. (mid 4th to late 3rd mill. B.C., South Mesopotamia)
The White Temple at Uruk
Uruk (Warka) Era
(mid 4th to late 3rd mill. B.C., South Mesopotamia)

22. Ruin of ziggurat of E-anna at Uruk
Uruk chronology -based on the pottery styles found in a 20-meter deep pit dug at this sacred site.

23. limestone tablet from Kish - both sides ( c. 3500 B.C.)
earliest example of pictographs
contains sign for head, hand, foot, a threshing sledge, and numbers
(Dept. Antiquities, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, UK)
Uruk

24. Uruk. http://www.hp.uab.edu/image_archive/ue/uea.html
Administrative clay tablet
c B.C.
deep circles and cresents – numbers
pictographs representing high necked jars etc.
Simple enumeration
Uruk.

25. Marble head of woman from Uruk
“Originally the eyes and eyebrows had colored inlays, and the head was perhaps placed on a wooden body.”

26. The Sumerian Civilization
Zinchen, Z. The Sumerian Civilization – Part 2. ., Lauri Kaub ed.

27. Relief of hunting or battle?

28. Sumerian Migration

29. Contributions of Ancient Sumerian Mesopotamia to the World
World’s first city-state ("cradle of civilization”)
World’s first empire (Sargan I)
water clock
a writing system (cuneiform and cylindrical seal that functioned like a printing press)
Kaub, Lauri. The Sumerian Civilization – Part 2.

30. What root word do you see here
What root word do you see here? What sounds familiar about the school system?
Cuneiform Writing
learned in strict Sumerian schools (edubbas, or tablet houses), lasting about twelve hours daily
Subjects: reading, writing, arithmetic
“A mistake on a clay tablet could merit a beating.”
Career results: successfully completing twelve years of schooling - an official scribe, or writer, a prestigious
Role of Scribes: “to the maintain and improve the record keeping that the Sumerians deemed so very necessary.”
Also wrote on cylinder seals carved out of stone. ;

31. Contributions of Ancient Sumerian Mesopotamia to the World
the twelve-month calendar based on lunar cycles
the wheel
the plow
high –rise buildings
archways
The Bronze Age
Kaub, Lauri. The Sumerian Civilization – Part 2.

32. Contributions of Ancient Sumerian Mesopotamia to the World
Kaub, Lauri. The Sumerian Civilization – Part 2.
Contributions of Ancient Sumerian Mesopotamia to the World
clay
the wheel
the plow
sailboat

33. Contributions of Ancient Sumerian Mesopotamia to the World
Kaub, Lauri. The Sumerian Civilization – Part 2.
Contributions of Ancient Sumerian Mesopotamia to the World
clay

34. Sumerian Metalurgy Earrings Fertility Symbol Parthenon Horse
( or rocket)?
Kaub, Lauri. The Sumerian Civilization – Part 2.

35. Sumerian Musical Instruments
Lyre with bull’s head and lapis lazuli – 3 views
Kaub, Lauri. The Sumerian Civilization – Part 2.

36. Sumerian Attire and Hairstyles
“The basic garment was called ‘Tug’, without a doubt, the forerunner to the Roman ‘Toga’.”
Links: Kaub, Lauri. Sumerian Civilization – Part 2

37. Sumerian Attire
Materials: wool or flax (a blue-flowerd plant with stems used to make the clothing); matched the seasons; finer texture and color to reflect wealth
Jewelry: earrings and necklaces for men and women - even more jewelry for celebrations. The wealthier Sumerians often wore beautiful gold and silver bracelets and earrings. Necklaces were also worn and were set with bright, precious stones. Some of these stones were the lapis lazuli and the carnelian.

38. Sumerian Attire and Hairstyles
Clothes by Ashley. Student rendition lf Sumerian attire
Sumerian Attire and Hairstyles
Men’s Appearance: kilt-like garments tying at the waist; Men were either clean shaven or had long hair and beards. Women wore their hair long, but they usually braided it and wrapped it around their heads. When entertaining guests
Women’s Appearance: usually gowns that covered them from their shoulders to their ankles. The right arm and shoulder were left uncovered; headdresses Although both rich and poor Sumerians wore the same style of clothing
://

39. Queen Shub Ad - Burial Attire (First Dynasty of Ur)
The Queen wore the beautiful headdress of spirals of gold, terminating in lapis-centered gold flowers (or stars). The Queen also wore large golden earrings of lunate shape that hung to her shoulders; lapis amulets of a bull and a calf, and strands of lapis, agate, carnelian and gold beads. The Queen's grave was much more elaborate than that of the King, perhaps indicating her equal or even greater importance.

40. Sumerian Transportation
Designed and promotd by Webpromotioncr.com. Copyright ©   by  Strayreality.com  Costa Rica, All rights reserved. Revised: 21 Jun :16:

41. Composition of Sumerian Homes
earliest – reeds
Later - sun-dried mud- bricks
Modest - one story high with an open court in the center, around which there were several rooms.
Wealthy - homes two stories high with approximately twelve rooms, including servants' quarters and whitewashed walls inside and outside to project the appearance of affluence and cleanliness
private chapels and mausoleums – possibly on estates of wealthier people

42. Sumerian Gods and Goddesses

43.
Reptilian in Nature?

44. Sumerian Pantheon

45. Enki (Ea) in his watery home, the Apsu

46. Enki walking out of the water to the land, attended by Usmu (Isimud), a god with two faces

47. Enki with the Gods and the Initiate The Water of Life flowing into the laboratory glassware indicates alchemical circulations.

48. Annunaki
Creation of first man by Anunnaki. Laboratory vessels and Tree of Life.
What does this picture tell you about the Sumerian culture’s view of creation?

49. Enlil – second and most powerful god of the Sumerian Pantheon

50. The Ziggurat of Enlil at Nippur

51. Inanna (E-anna) - aka INNIN - INNINI - patron and special god/goddess of Erech (Uruk)

52. Inanna (E-anna) queen of beasts; lion her sacred animal

53. Inanna (E-anna) sculptures showing her softer nature

54. Ishtar
Symbol: an eight or sixteen-pointed star Sacred number: 15 Astrological region: Dibalt (Venus) and the Bowstar (Sirius) Sacred animal: lion, (dragon)

55. Ishtar Gate
Gate created for her to return to earth from the underworld

56. Model of Ashur: the double temple of Anu and Adad – reinforces the idea of Sumerians being polytheistic

57. Temple tower of Agar Guf, Kassite city of Dur Kurigalz
Traces of the staircase have been found.

58. Model of The Painted Temple at Sumer
Revised: June 2, 1998Copyright © 1997 Oriental Institute, University of Chicago,

59. (birthplace of Abraham)
Ur of the Chaldees
(birthplace of Abraham)
British Museum’s interactive guide to Mesopotamia.

60. Mesopotamian capital city, built around a ziggurat (temple)
Model of Ur
(c B.C.),
Mesopotamian capital city, built around a ziggurat (temple)
(c) Copyright 1995 Taisei Corporationhttp://
Model of a ziggurat

61. (found in the Royal Cemetery at Ur)
The Standard of Ur
(found in the Royal Cemetery at Ur)
Ur at peace:
one side of the
Standard of Ur
Ur at war:
the other side of the
Standard of Ur

62. THE STANDARD OF UR: Scenes of War and Tribute, The Standard of Ur, c
THE STANDARD OF UR: Scenes of War and Tribute, The Standard of Ur, c BCE (Standard is in the British Museum)

63. Dimensional View of the Standard of Ur (c. 2685 BC)

64. one of the most heroic priest-kings
GILGAMESH
one of the most heroic priest-kings
The oldest written story in the world – an account of his legendary deeds
characterized as both human and divine. Accompanied by Enkidu around the world, performing heroic acts.)

65. Sumerian Burial Practices
Stairways leading down to tomb chambers at the Royal Cemetery at UR
Sumerian Burial Practices
King’s death – sacrifice of his queen and his attendants so that he would go to eternity with servants and favorite personal possessions; their possessions also included; king at bottom, servants next, queen on top
Helstad, Lillian. Sacrifices in the Sumerian Culture/

66. Golden head of a bull on the front of a lyre found at Ur
Artifacts - Royal Cemetery (Ur)
Queen’s harp (lyre)
Golden head of a bull on the front of a lyre found at Ur
(c BC)
Helstad, Lillian. Sacrifices in the Sumerian Culture/

67. Ceremonial dagger (mes01042)
Artifacts - Royal Cemetery (Ur)
Spouted vessel of Gold
Ceremonial dagger (mes01042)
Helstad, Lillian. Sacrifices in the Sumerian Culture/

68. Artifacts - Royal Cemetery (Ur)
The ram (goat) and the shrub (tree)
Limestone statue of a woman – found in a soldier’s grave
Fluted Cup
Helstad, Lillian. Sacrifices in the Sumerian Culture/

69. Artifacts - Royal Cemetery (Ur)
Processions of Musicians Bismiasma Vase
Jewelry
Helstad, Lillian. Sacrifices in the Sumerian Culture/

70. restored by successive rulers
Ziggurat at Ur
(c BC)
Model of the ziggurat, with the ascents partly restored
restored by successive rulers
Drawing of the ziggurat with people going to worship the moon-god Nanna

71. Babylon Ruins of Babylon today
Colored reproduction of stone depiction of Hammurabi receiving the code of laws,

72. Achievements of Hammurabi of Babylon
Amorite city-state ruler who united large number of city-states (c BCE)
improved the irrigation system, tax system, and government housing system
united the people under one religion
provided uniformity among the city-states by enacting a code of law (282 laws- "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.")

73. Hammurabi - Receiving the Laws from a Seated God

74. Detail of the inscription on the stele of Hamurabi's code

75. Pazuzu: Babylonian Demon
little-known demon from Babylonian myth
represented as a very thin, emaciated man with the feet and wings of an eagle, and the forepaws and head of a lion.
nearly always shown with the right paw raised and the left held at his side.
first appeared in early Babylonian myth in the guise of the "storm-bird" Zu, who stole the Tablets of Destiny from the dragoness Tiamat.
Appeared in later Babylonian civilization as Pazuzu, child of the chief wind-demon, Hanpa.
Several metal amulets depicting Pazuzu have been found. In all of these amulets, he is represented as appearing similar to the above description. Of these small (a few inches in height) amulets, an occasional magical one is found.
Pazuzu: a nonmagical image; the personification of the south-east storm wind, which brings diseases.

76. The Hanging Gardens Foundation of the palace
“It is said that the Gardens were built by Nebuchadnezzar to please his wife or concubine who had been "brought up in Media and had a passion for mountain surroundings". -

77. “The approach to the Garden sloped like a hillside and the several parts of the structure rose from one another tier on tier... On all this, the earth had been piled... and was thickly planted with trees of every kind that, by their great size and other charm, gave pleasure to the beholder... The water machines [raised] the water in great abundance from the river, although no one outside could see it.”
-Diodorus Siculus

78. Wall of Hanging gardens of Babylon still extant

79. Ishtar Gate of Babylon built by Nebuchadnezzar II (604 - 562 BC)
location ?
Plan of the palace at Babylon centering at the Ishtar gate

80. Ishtar Gate in Context (current aerial view)

81. The Assyrian Empire

82. Priest-King or God (?). (c. 1600 BC)
North Syria, Hittite. The Cleveland Museum of Art. No
Copyright, The Cleveland Museum of Art.

83. Gudea of Lagash
B.C. Mesopotamian, Neo-Sumerian period Paragonite cm (16 1/8 in.) Founders Society Purchase, Robert H. Tannahill Foundation Fund; 82.64
Detroit Institute of Arts.

84. Assyrian Achievements
dammed the rivers leading into Babylon to deprive the Babylonians of water
conquered all of Mesopotamia and expanded it as far as Egypt
developed powerful armies with iron weapons
used chariots, and battering rams
What is the significance of these accomplishments?

85. How can you tell the battle is with the Arabs?
An alabaster relief of an Arab - Assyrian battle found near Ninevah (c. 660 BC)
How can you tell the battle is with the Arabs?

86. ca. 604-562 B.C. Mesopotamian, Neo-Babylonian Period
Dragon of Marduk
• scaly body, • serpent's head, • viper's horns, • front feet of a feline, • hind feet of a bird, • a scorpion's tail;
was sacred to the god Marduk, principal deity of Babylon
ca B.C. Mesopotamian, Neo-Babylonian Period
Ishtar Gate, Babylon
Molded, glazed bricks;
1.2 x 1.7 m (45 1/2 x 65 3/4 in.);
Detroit Institute of Arts.

87. Glazed Brick Representing a Birdman
7th century B.C.;
Neo-Assyrian Period; Glazed terracotta;
33.6 x 34.3 cm (13 1/3 X 13 1/2 in.);
Founders Society Purchase, Cleo and Lester Gruber Fund, and the Hill Memorial Fund;
Detroit Institute of Arts.

88. The winged Bull of Khorsabad

89. Panel from the gates of Balwat
Jehu, the king of Israel, bowing to Shalmaneser 111 ( BC) who forced Tyre, Sidon and Israel to pay tribute to him.

90. Plan of the circular city of Baghdad (c. 766 AD) by Caliph Al-Mansoor
the innermost circle diameter: 2000 yards The four gates to
Khorasan (NE),
Basra (SE),
Kufa (SW)
Syria (NW)

91. Jemdet Nasr Pottery (late 4th mill., South Mesopotamia)
found in al' Ain region of the United Arab Emirates - which attests to contacts between Mesopotamia and Oman peninsula - an important source of copper.
Ca B.C.
(London: British Museum)

92. Wheel-turned, Jemdet Nasr painted pottery
Persian connections:
Polychrome geometric designs in black and plum - characteristic of the period.
Shapes - often derived from metalware
(Asmholean Museum Oxford)
Wheel-turned, Jemdet Nasr painted pottery

93. Nimrud Relief Architectural Panels
Lion killing a slave
What social commentaries might be made from this relief?

94. Tadmor (Palmyra), Syria
Temple of Baal
Tadmor (Palmyra), Syria

95. Tadmor (Palmyra) – palm; a city built by Solomon
Altar of Baal
Tadmor (Palmyra) – palm; a city built by Solomon
“ [It was ] a city on the southern border of Palestine and toward the wilderness, [standing] in the great Syrian wilderness, 176 miles from Damascus and 130 from the Mediterranean and was the center of a vast commercial traffic with Western Asia. It was also an important military station.”

96. with the winged god at Nimrud
Relief of lion hunting found at Nimrud
Relief on palace of
King Ashurnasirpal II
( BC)
with the winged god at Nimrud

97. Beginning of the Persian Empire:
Darius I
(reign: 522 to 486)

98. Models of Persian Artifacts
A drawing of PersianSoldiers,
A copy of the relief of Cyrus the Great
Pictures and text in the following pages are from "The Persian Army, BC" by Nick Sekunda with drawings by Simon Chew, Osprey Publishing Ltd. London SW3.

99. Wall Paintings at Dura Europos, Syria

100. Close up of Wall Painting at Dura Europos

101. “Dura Europos in Syria was founded by Alexander's lieutenant, Seleucus Nicator. The town was closely linked with Palmyra, serving as an important forward line of defense against Persians. It was captured and destroyed by the Sassanids in 256 AD shortly before the fall of the Syrian Metropolis itself.”

102. What are the artistic contributions or recognizable stylistic traits of the Mesopotamians?

103. Artistic and Stylistic Traits
Heavy usage of relief sculpture
Moving from abstract to realistic figures
Use of bricks, alabaster, and limestone
Highly decorated, durable pottery
Steles
Cuneiform writing stamped by cylindrical printing seals
Recreation of gods and religious beliefs in artwork
Sculpture and drawings of royalty
Use of metals and stones
Vivid colors

104. http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/MESO/TIMELINE.HTM Mesopotamian Timeline
Timeline ©WSU,

105. Sources
British Museum’s interactive guide to Mesopotamia.
Classicas Technology Center. Mesopotamia - Artifacts by Ashley and Kamario
Cleveland Museum of Art.
Crystal, Ellie. Metaphysical and Science Website. Sumerian Gods and Goddesses.
Detroit Institute of Arts. Secunda, Nick with drawings by Simon Chew, The Persian Army, BC, Osprey Publishing Ltd. London SW3.
Helstad, Lillian. Sacrifices in the Sumerian Culture/
“Pazuzu” Image created on 19 February 2000; last modified on 19 February © Encyclopedia Mythica. All rights reserved.
The Sumerian People. middle_east/sumer_citizens.html
Taylor, Andrew. October 6, 1998http://
Zitchen, Z., Sumerian Civilization – Part 2. Laur Kaub ed. Copyright ©   by  Strayreality.com  Costa Rica, All rights reserved. Revised: 21 Jun :16:
Annonynous articles, authors
LINK

106. Secondary Sources
Bibliography for Helstad, Lillian. Sacrifices in the Sumerian Culture/ edu/sacrifice/sumerians.html
Ceram, C.W. Gods, Graves, & Scholars. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1967.
Clark, Grahame. Prehistoric Societies. New York: Alfred A. Knopf Inc., 1965.
Davies, Nigel. Human Sacrifice: In History & Today. New York: William Morrow and Company Inc., 1981.
Kramer, Samuel Noah. The Sumerians: their history, culture, and character. Chicago: Chicago Press, 1963.
Tierney, Patrick. The Highest Altar: The Story of Human Sacrifice. England: Viking Penguin, 1989.
Woolley, Leonard. Excavations at Ur. New York: Crowell Company, 1965.
Woolley, Leonard. History of Mankind. United States: UNESCO, 1963
Woolley, Leonard. The Sumerians. London: Oxford University Press,1965.
Bibliography Sources for
A SHORT HISTORY of ARCHITECTURE IN IRAQ (3,000 B.C. ­ 1258 AD) Samuel M. Ronaya, Lecturer, Al-Hikma University, Baghdad YEARS OF THE ART OF MESOPOTAMIA, BY EVA STROMMENGER, PHOTOGRAPHS BY MAX HIRMER, ABRAMS, NEW YORK: ANCIENT IRAQ, by GEORGES ROUX, LONDON: ALLEN & UNWIN: TWIN RIVERS By SETON LLOYD OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS: BOMBAY HISTORY BEGINS AT S U M E R, by Samuel Noah Kramer Doubleday Anchor Books: Garden City, New York: EARLY MESOPOTAMIA AND IRAN by M. E. L. Mallowan McGRAW-HILL NEW YORK 1969
Bibliography Sources for The Sumerian People. emuseum/prehistory/ middle_east/sumer_citizens.html
Tom B. Jones, "Sumer," Grolier Electronic Encyclopedia, 1993;Samuel Noah Kramer, Cradle of Civilization, New York: Time Incorporated, 1969; World History, Volume One, St. Paul, MN: West Publishing Company, 1991;

108. Excerpted from Lebanon: A Country Study. Thomas Collelo, ed
Excerpted from Lebanon: A Country Study. Thomas Collelo, ed. Washington, DC: Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 1987]
Roman temple in the mountain village of Bayt Miri Courtesy Lebanese Information and Research Center

110. Tyre Cathedral ? 400 CE

111. Deir Mar Elishaa (Monastry of Saint Eliseus)

112. Baalbeck

113. Sidon

115. Anjar

116. History of Lebanon. http://www.lgic.org/en/history.php
(from 50,000 BC AD in a glance)
Pre-Historic
Paleolithic- Neolithic ( BC BC)
Recorded History
Phoenicians - Greek - Romans (4000 BC AD)
Arab- Crusades- Mamluks (600 AD AD)
Ottomans- French- Independence (1516 AD AD)
Switzerland of the East (1943 AD AD)
War in Lebanon (1970 AD AD)
Occupied Lebanon (1982 AD AD)
Lebanon Now (1990 AD AD)

117. Pre-Historic
(50,000 BC – 10,000 BC) Paleolithic Period
The evidence of tools found in caves along the coast of Lebanon shows that it was inhabited all through the classic stages of human development: Paleolithic, Neolithic, the bronze, and the iron working periods. Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon people were making flint tools in this region around 50,000 years ago.
( BC BC) Neolithic Period
Village life followed the domestication of plants and animals with the Neolithic Revolution starting around 10,000 BC. The traces of the coastal settlements in Lebanon date back to around 9000 BC in Byblos, favoring it’s founding among the earliest ‘communities’ during this period.
4000 BC AD

118. The recorded history shows a group of coastal cities and heavily forested mountains inhabited by a Semitic people, the Canaanites, around 4000 BC. These early inhabitants referred to themselves according to their city of origin, and called their nation Canaan. They lived in the narrow East-Mediterranean cost and the parallel strip mountains of Lebanon. Around 2800 BC Canaanites traded cedar timber, olive oil and wine from Byblos for metals and ivory from Egypt. The Coastal cities fell to Amorites around 2000 BC, and to Egyptians from round 1800 until 1200 BC when they recovered independence.
The Canaanites who inhabited that area were called Phoenicians by the Greeks (from the Greek word phoinos, meaning ‘red’) in a reference to the unique purple dye the Phoenicians produced from murex seashells. The Phoenicians mastered the art of navigation and dominated the Mediterranean Sea trade for over 500 years. They excelled in producing textiles, carving ivory and working with metal and glass. The Phoenicians built several local cities East of the Mediterranean among which are: Byblos, Tyre, Sidon, Berytus (Beirut), Tripoli, Arvad Island-City, Baalbek and Caesarea.
They established trade routes to Europe and Western Asia. Phoenician ships circumnavigated Africa a thousand years before those of the Portuguese. They founded colonies wherever they ventured on the North and South of the Mediterranean in Cyprus, Rhodes, Crete, Malta, Sicily, Sardinia, Marseilles, Cadiz, and Carthage around the first Millennium B.C.

120. Inventing the Alphabet
Around 1600 B.C. the Phoenicians invented the alphabet, and passed them onto the world. The Greeks adopted the 22-letter alphabet from the Phoenicians which has led to the Latin letters of present day.
Constructing Kings David and Solomon Palaces and Temple
The Phoenician king Hiram of Tyre ( BC) built a palace for David and two palaces and a temple for Solomon. The Bible provides a vast amount of information about them. The Phoenicians built David’s Palace and Solomon’s Temple. They also built King Solomon two palaces, of which one was called 'Forest of Lebanon'. Craftsmen of Phoenicia used Lebanon’s cedar and metal to accomplish the work around the mid of the tenth century BC. (for Details)

121. Images in Bekaa Region
American University of Beirut.

122. Anjar: Ruines Ommayades
American University of Beirut.

123. Excavation of Anjar

124. Ummyadd Palace - Anjar
Anjar, 58 km from Beirut, is completely different from any other archaeological experience you will have in Lebanon. At other historical sites in the country, different epochs and civilisations are superimposed one on top of each other. Anjar is exclusively one period, the Umayyad.
Lebanon's other sites were founded a millennia ago, but Anjar is a relative new-comer, going back to the early 8th Century AD. Unlike Tyre and Byblos, which claim continuous habitation since the day they were founded, Anjar flourished for only a few decades. Other than a beautiful Umayyad mosque in Baalbeck, we have few remnants left from this important period of Arab history.
Text: Illustrated Publications, S.A.L Photography: P. Magnin, A. Yetenekian Design: Mouna Bassilli, Printed in Lebanon by SYCO Edited by the National Council of Tourism in Lebanon, P.O. Box Beirut, Telephone: /

125. American University of Beruit, http://almashriq. hiof

126. Manara Hmaireh – Roman Ruins
American University of Beruit,

127. Tell Archeologique
American University of Beruit,

128. Temple sacré
American University of Beruit,

129. Dekweh -Roman Temple Ruins
American University of Beruit,

130. Anjar - Costumes
American University of Beruit,

131. Majdel Anjar Ruins
American University of Beruit,

132. Castle of Rashaya - inside
American University of Beruit,

133. Castle Rashaya - prison
American University of Beruit,

134. Ruins in Rashaya
American University of Beruit,

135. Temple Walls
American University of Beruit,

136. Greek Dedicatory Inscription
American University of Beruit,

137. "Mausoleum of sheikh ""Mousafir"""
American University of Beruit,

139. The Ruins at Baalbek
The Ruins at Baalbek.

140. The Ruins at Baalbek.http://www.tmeg.com/artifacts/baalbek/baalbek.htm
Near the modern city of Baalbek in Lebanon, in ancient times called Heliopolis or city of the Sun, ran a trade route linking Damascus and Tyre. Here, Roman engineers in the first century AD raised a massive temple complex. The site was dominated by Temple of Jupiter, a stone colossus surrounded by fifty four columns of immense size and height.  
  Also contained in the complex is the Temple of Bacchus, with it's fluted columns. While not as impressive as the Temple to Jupiter and the huge columns it is still an ancient engineering feat. Beneath the temples lay a greater wonder, a huge foundation comprising an area of more than five million square feet and containing more stone than the Great Pyramid at Giza. No mortar was used in its construction and yet in 2000 years it has not perceptibly settled. The secret of this stability lies in the downhill retaining wall, which contains three of the world's biggest blocks of cut stone. Stood upright, each would be as tall as a five story building, and weigh more than 600 tons.
The Ruins at Baalbek.

141. The Ruins at Baakbek

142. Roman structures at pre-Roman site of Baalbek
Gray, Martin. Places of Peace and Power. Baalbek, Lebanon.

143. Roman structures atop massive pre-Roman stones of Baalbek
Gray, Martin. Places of Peace and Power. Baalbek, Lebanon.

144. At the base of the far wall, the great stones of Baalbek
Gray, Martin. Places of Peace and Power. Baalbek, Lebanon.

145. Massive foundation stones of Baalbek
Gray, Martin. Places of Peace and Power. Baalbek, Lebanon.

146. The greatest of the Baalbek stones, perhaps 1200 tons
Gray, Martin. Places of Peace and Power. Baalbek, Lebanon.

148. Beufort Castle
Of the dozen-odd Crusander castles in Lebanon none can compare in size, scenic grandeur, or close connection with Lebanese histroy down to modern times, with isolated Beufort, perched on its cliff a thousand feet above the rushing Litani.It is a pity that Beufort's historic significanse to Lebanon was so great, for the castle's continued importance down to the 17th Century brought about its systematic destruction at the hands of an expert wrecking and demolition crew in the year 1615.What we see today is not so much a picturesque medieval ruin as a cast rock pile obscuring broken towers and battlements - a perfectly defensless mass of buildings, mostly underground, scientifically destroyed by gunpower and wrecking bars over a period of 40 days by Turkish Pasha of Damascus.This was end of an impregnable fortress, a castle too strong to be taken by force of arms, a stronghold betrayed by its Turkomen mercenary defenders for Turkish gold, a nail in the coffin of Lebanon's Prince Fakhreddin II el-Maani, in whose hands it had formed the key to the defences of his supra-national Maanid principality of Lebanon, Western Syria, Galilee and western Palestine.
This text is from Bruce Condès "See Lebanon - Over 100 Selected Trips, With History and Pictures". Harab Bijjani Press, Beirut, Lebanon 1960
Castles of the Levant Map of the Levant The Coast of Syria; map by Guglielmo Soleri. Majorque, (Bibl. Nat., sect. géogr., Ge B. 1131) From: Les Châteaux des Croisés en Terre Sainte: Le Crac des Chevaliers, étude historique et archéologique précédée d'une introduction générale sur la Syrie Franque, vol. "Album", by Paul Deschamps, Bibliothèque Archéologique et Historique, Tome XIX, Paris, Librairie Orientaliste Paul Geuthner, Plate I.

149. Castles of the Levant Map of the Levant The Coast of Syria; map by Guglielmo Soleri. Majorque, (Bibl. Nat., sect. géogr., Ge B. 1131) From: Les Châteaux des Croisés en Terre Sainte: Le Crac des Chevaliers, étude historique et archéologique précédée d'une introduction générale sur la Syrie Franque, vol. "Album", by Paul Deschamps, Bibliothèque Archéologique et Historique, Tome XIX, Paris, Librairie Orientaliste Paul Geuthner, Plate I.

150. Mousa’s Castle

151. Crac des Chevaliers The two Enclosures, view from a south-western angle from the first enclosure, Towers 4, 3, 2 and Towers O. and P., Phot. Paul DeschampsLes Châteaux des Croisés en Terre Sainte: Le Crac des Chevaliers, étude historique et archéologique précédée d'une introduction générale sur la Syrie Franque, vol. "Album", by Paul Deschamps, Bibliothèque Archéologique et Historique, Tome XIX, Paris, Librairie Orientaliste Paul Geuthner, Plate XXXVI

152. Crac des Chevaliers The two Enclosures, view from a south-western angle from the first enclosure, Towers 4, 3, 2 and Towers O. and P., Phot. Paul DeschampsLes Châteaux des Croisés en Terre Sainte: Le Crac des Chevaliers, étude historique et archéologique précédée d'une introduction générale sur la Syrie Franque, vol. "Album", by Paul Deschamps, Bibliothèque Archéologique et Historique, Tome XIX, Paris, Librairie Orientaliste Paul Geuthner, 1934.

153. Crac des Chevaliers The two Enclosures, view from a south-western angle from the first enclosure, Towers 4, 3, 2 and Towers O. and P., Phot. Paul DeschampsLes Châteaux des Croisés en Terre Sainte: Le Crac des Chevaliers, étude historique et archéologique précédée d'une introduction générale sur la Syrie Franque, vol. "Album", by Paul Deschamps, Bibliothèque Archéologique et Historique, Tome XIX, Paris, Librairie Orientaliste Paul Geuthner, Plate XXXVI

155. Tripoli-Qlay@at Fort of Coliat, Phot
Fort of Coliat, Phot. 39e Régiment d'Aviation Les Châteaux des Croisés en Terre Sainte: Le Crac des Chevaliers, étude historique et archéologique précédée d'une introduction générale sur la Syrie Franque, vol. "Album", by Paul Deschamps, Bibliothèque Archéologique et Historique, Tome XIX, Paris, Librairie Orientaliste Paul Geuthner, Plate XVII-A

156. Tyre
Castles of the Levant Map of the Levant The Coast of Syria; map by Guglielmo Soleri. Majorque, (Bibl. Nat., sect. géogr., Ge B. 1131) From: Les Châteaux des Croisés en Terre Sainte: Le Crac des Chevaliers, étude historique et archéologique précédée d'une introduction générale sur la Syrie Franque, vol. "Album", by Paul Deschamps, Bibliothèque Archéologique et Historique, Tome XIX, Paris, Librairie Orientaliste Paul Geuthner, Plate I.