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(127 km from Beirut)
- Crusader Remains
At Beit Jaalouk, lie the basaltic remains of a little temple
erected in stages starting in the first century AD, and later made into a
church in Byzantine times. These remains, restored by the
Directorate General of Antiquities, has some dedications in Greek
letters. One of them, a statue base measuring 110cm x 67cm, was
dedicated in 262 AD by the priest Drusus to Nemesis who was considered the
mistress of cosmic destiny. A wheel of fortune is etched into the rock
below the name of the goddess.
 In
the valley below the temple is the Menjez
river. North of the temple towards the river,
you can see the
old Roman canalization with supporting walls, 5 meters high. This water
course winds its way for some distance both east and west of the temple and
makes an interesting hike. The town of Menjez is the site of
the monastery of Our Lady of the Fortress, located at the end of a long
stone paved road. Built in 1890, the structure stands near the remains
of a Crusader
castle where cisterns and tombs may also be found.
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Getting
There ...
From the center of Halba, turn left in the direction of Qubbayat.
Continue until you come to an artificial lake to your right, about 18 km
away from Halba. Half a kilometer beyond this is a left turn in the
direction of Menjez which you follow for 5 km. Then take a right fork
that dead ends at the Hamlet of Qosayr. Just beyond a grove of
large oak trees and a tomb, turn right onto a dirt road, which, if dry, is
passable by car. About 1 kilometer along this road is a small building
and from here a ten minute walk along the path to the right leads to the
temple site. (See
North Map)
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