Beel-zebub, or Belzebub, the god of the Ekronites. In Scripture he is called the Prince of Devils. His name is usually rendered the "Lord of Flies," which, some think, was a mock appellation bestowed on him by the Jews. But Scaliger derives the name from Baalim-zebu-hin, which signifies the "Lord of Sacrifices."

BAALBEK, an ancient city of Syria, celebrated for the magnificence of its ruins, which, with the exception of those at Palmyra, are the most extensive in Syria. Baalbec in the Syrian language signifies the "City of Baal," or the Sun, and the Greek name Heliopolis (i.e., city of the sun) is a translation of this term. It is supposed to be the same with the Baal-Gad of Scripture said to be "in the valley of Lebanon under Mount Hermon." There is not sufficient authority for supposing this to be the Baalath built or fortified by Solomon. It is pleasantly situated on the lowest declivity of the Anti-Libanus, at the opening of a small valley into the plain El-Bekaa, 109 geographical miles from Palmyra, and 384 from Tripoli; Long. 36. 11. E. Lat. 34. 1. 30. N. Through this valley runs a small stream divided into numberless rills for irrigation.

The origin of this city appears to be lost in the most remote antiquity, and the historical notices of it are very scanty; the silence of the classical writers respecting it would alone seem to imply that it had previously existed under another name. In the absence of more positive information, we can only conjecture that its situation on the high road of commerce between Tyre, Palmyra, and the farther East, must have contributed largely to the wealth and magnificence which it manifestly attained. It is mentioned under the name of Heliopolis by Josephus (Antiq. xiv. 3, 4), and also by Pliny (Hist. Nat. v. 22). Two Roman inscriptions of the time of Antoninus Pius give sanction to the statement of John of Antioch, who alleges that this emperor built a great temple to Jupiter at Heliopolis, which was one of the wonders of the world (Hist. Chron. lib. xii.). From the reverses of Roman coins we learn that Heliopolis was constituted a colony by Julius Caesar; that it was the seat of a Roman garrison in the time of Augustus; and obtained the jus Baalbee. Italicum from Severus. Some of the coins of later date contain curious representations of the temple.

From the accounts of Oriental writers, Baalbee seems to have continued a place of importance down to the time of the Moslem invasion of Syria. They describe it as one of the most splendid of Syrian cities, enriched with stately palaces, adorned with monuments of ancient times, and abounding with trees, fountains, and whatever contributes to luxurious enjoyment. After the capture of Damascus it was regularly invested by the Moslems, and after a courageous defence, at length capitulated. The ransom exacted by the conquerors, consisted of 2000 ounces of gold, 4000 ounces of silver, 2000 silk vests, and 1000 swords, together with the arms of the garrison. It afterwards became the mart for the rich pillage of Syria; but its prosperity soon received a fatal blow from the khalif of Damascus, by whom it was sacked and dismantled, and the principal inhabitants put to the sword (A.D. 748). During the Crusades, being incapable of making any resistance, it seems to have quietly submitted to the strongest. In the year 1400 it was pillaged by Timour Beg, in his progress to Damascus, after he had taken Aleppo. Afterwards it fell into the hands of the Metawli—a barbarous predatory tribe, who were nearly exterminated when Djezzar Pasha permanently subjected the whole district to Turkish supremacy.

From the S., the city is first discovered at the distance of about a league and a half, behind a hedge of trees, over the verdant tops of which appears a white edging of domes and minarets. After about an hour's journey the traveller reaches this hedge, which is composed of very fine walnut trees, and soon after, crossing some ill-cultivated gardens by winding paths, arrives at the entrance of the city. Here he perceives a ruined wall, flanked with square towers, which ascends the declivity to the right, and traces out the precincts of the ancient city. This wall, which is only ten or twelve feet in height, admits a view of those void spaces and heaps of ruins which are invariable characteristics of every Turkish city; but what principally attracts attention is a large edifice on the left, which, by its lofty walls and rich columns, is soon recognized as one of those temples which antiquity has left for our admiration. These ruins, which are among the most beautiful and best preserved of any in Asia, merit a particular description.

To form a just idea of them, the reader must imagine himself descending from the interior of the town. After crossing the rubbish and huts with which it is filled, the first thing deserving of notice is a vacant space, which appears to have been a square: there, in front, towards the west, is a grand ruin, consisting of two pavilions ornamented with pilasters, joined at their lower angle by a wall 160 feet in length. This front commands the open country from a sort of terrace, on the edge of which are with difficulty distinguished the bases of twelve columns, which formerly extended from the one pavilion to the other, and formed a portico. The principal gate is obstructed by heaps of stones; but, that obstacle surmounted, the traveller enters an empty space, which is a hexagonal court of 180 feet in diameter. This court is strewn with broken columns, mutilated capitals, and the remains of pilasters, entablatures, and cornices; and around it is a row of ruined edifices, which display ornaments of the richest architecture. At the end of this court, towards the west, is an outlet, which formerly was a gate, through which is perceived a still more extensive range of ruins, of great magnificence. To have a full view of these, it is necessary to ascend a slope, at the top of which is the entrance to a quadrangular court much more spacious than the former, being 350 feet in width and 336 in length. The eye is first attracted to the end of this court, where are six enormous and majestic columns nearly entire. Another object not less interesting is a second range of columns to the left, which appear to have formed part of the peristyle of a temple. But the edifices which inclose this court on either side claim attention in the first instance. These form a sort of gallery containing various chambers, seven of which may be reckoned in each of the principal wings, namely, two in a semi-circle, and five in an oblong. The base of the apartments still retains pediments of niches and tabernacles, the supporters of which have been destroyed. On the side of the court they are open, while four columns on the one side and six on the other have been totally destroyed. It is not easy to conceive the use of these apartments; but this does not lessen the admiration excited by the beauty of their pilasters and the richness of the frieze of the entablature. Neither is it possible to avoid remarking the singular effect which results from the mixture of the garlands, the large foliage of the capitals, and the sculpture of wild plants, with which they are everywhere ornamented. In the middle of the court is a little square esplanade, where anciently stood a pavilion, of which nothing now remains but the foundation. With regard to the six columns above mentioned, it is impossible to survey them without being struck with the boldness of their elevation and the richness of their workmanship. Their shafts are 21 feet 8 inches in circumference, and 58 in height; and the total height, including the entablature, is 75 feet 10 inches. The sight of this superb ruin, thus solitary and desolate, is exceedingly imposing; but a more attentive examination discovers a series of foundations, marking an oblong of 268 feet in length and 146 in width, which probably formed the peristyle of a grand temple, the primary purpose of this whole structure. It presented to the great court, that is, to the E., a front of 10 columns, with 19 on each side; which, with the six already mentioned, make in all 54. The ground on which it stood is an oblong, on a level with the court, but considerably narrower, so that there was only a terrace of 27 feet wide round the colonnade; while the esplanade thus produced fronts the open country towards the W., by a sloping wall of about 30 feet. In approaching the city this descent becomes less steep, so that the foundation of the pavilion is on a level with the termination of the hill; whence it is evident that the whole ground of the courts has been artificially raised. Such seems to have been the former state of this edifice; but the southern side of the grand temple was afterwards blocked up in order to build a smaller one, the peristyle and walls of which are still remaining. This temple, situated somewhat lower than the other, presents a side of 13 columns by 8 in front, or 32 in all. These are likewise of the Corinthian order: their shafts are 15 feet 8 inches in circumference, and 44 feet in height. The building they surround is an oblong, the front of which, turned towards the E., is out of the line of the left wing of the great court. To reach it the traveller must cross trunks of columns, heaps of stone, and a ruinous wall, by which it is now hid. After surmounting these obstacles, he arrives at the gate, where he may survey the inclosure which was once the habitation of a god; but, instead of the awful scene of a prostrate people, and sacrifices offered by a multitude of priests, the sky is seen through the open roof, which lets in light enough to show a chaos of ruins covered with dust and weeds. The walls, formerly enriched with all the ornaments of the Corinthian order, now present nothing but pediments of niches and tabernacles, of which almost all the supporters have fallen to the ground. Between these niches is a range of fluted pilasters, the capitals of which support a broken entablature; but what remains displays a rich frieze of foliage resting on the heads of satyrs, horses, bulls, and other animals. Over this entablature was the ancient roof, which was 57 feet in width and 110 in length. The walls which supported it are 31 feet high, and without a window. It is impossible to form any idea of the ornaments of this roof, except from the fragments lying on the ground; but it could scarcely have been richer in orna- ment than the gallery of the peristyle. The principal remaining parts contain tablets in the form of lozenges, on which are represented Jupiter seated on his eagle, Leda caressed by the swan, Diana with her bow and crescent, and several busts of emperors and empresses. It is unnecessary to enter more minutely into the description of this astonishing edifice. The lovers of the arts will find it described with the greatest truth and accuracy in a work published at London in 1757, under the title of Ruins of Baalbec, by Messrs Wood and Dawkins, as well as in the more recent works of Volney, Burckhardt, Richardson, Addison, Lord Lindsay, and Dr Wilson.

The present Baalbec is a miserable village, to the east of the ruins, consisting of a few mud-built houses, with a population not exceeding 2000.