The ruins of Faqra
The ruins of Faqra are situated on a small plateau at 1600 m above the sea. This plateau overlooks a deep valley where runs the water of Neba El-Laban and Neba Al-Assal. This site of outstanding beauty lies between the rocks which look like a forest of stele. Faqra has attracted the western travellers since the 19 th century. In the book "A Trip to Phoenicia", Ernest Renan considers the site "as the most spectacular one in Mount- Lebanon". Many archeological and historical studies were made especially the one made by the German expedition in 1938, but archeological excavations did not take place until now.
Foundation
Three legendary texts revert the foundation of the site to different ages, starting from the era of King Soleiman (9 th century B.C) passing by the era of the Ptolemies (second century B.C), or revert it to mysterious ages. Two Greek scriptures engraved: the first one on the lintel of the tower main gate, and the second one on the right stone, revert its foundation to the year 43, while other Greek scriptures , found in the temple of Atargatis revert its foundation to the year 49. But the great temple did not contain any material evidence related to the foundation date.
Source: Kfardebian Municipality |
