Lebanon’s historically colorful past is reflected in its diverse present, said an art historian during an AUB lecture.
Francoise Hbeyka, an art history lecturer at Arts, Sciences, and Technology University in Lebanon (AUL), broadly discussed the origins of Lebanon’s historical artifacts and architectural elements at a meeting held by the Women’s League on October 3, 2011.
Among those who attended the meeting were President Dorman’s wife, Kathy, and business woman Salwa Ghaddar Younes.
Entitled “Lebanon through Some Renowned and Unknown Sites, Gods and Oeuvres,” the lecture was presented at Bathish Auditorium in West Hall.
Hbeyka said that there is a lot of influence from the past on the present, drawing her conclusion after analyzing Lebanon’s geology, architecture, and ancient religious artifacts.
Well-known landmarks and natural vistas might just serve as a perfect photo opportunity for the average tourist, but for archeologists they reveal a rich and diverse history.
Even the postcard-perfect Pigeon Rock in Raouche contains geological proof that Lebanon was inhabited as far back as the Paleolithic era, otherwise known as the Stone Age, said Hbeyka.
Moreover, the influences of the past are also present today in the facades of the buildings in Lebanon. Neo-gothic, neo-classical, neo-Islamic, art deco, and contemporary architectural design are still visible on Lebanese streets.
Even older than Lebanon’s facades are the remnants of city-walls, which use to delineate the borders of Canaanite-Phoenician cities that emerged during the Bronze Age.
These architectural landmarks persisted until the Ottoman Empire. Some of their names are still used till today as references to locations surrounding the city: Bab Eddriss, Bab el Dabbagha, and Bab el Saray are well-known Beiruti neighborhoods.
Hbeyka also argued that the past’s resilience is reflected in Lebanon’s current diversity. Even Phoenician gods are influenced by Egyptian and Greek mythology.
“Lebanon is a [cosmopolitan] land, open to all…influences,” she said. “It has always been the refuge of the persecuted… all the denominations sought refuge here… [forming] a mosaic of…colors.”