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The Glossary

Arak - "a triple-distilled spirit of grapes and is famous throughout the Middle East. It is colorless like water and tastes of aniseed which is introduced at the third distillation."

From Lebanon Glossary

The word "evocative" sums up Aanjar founded in the eighth century. It stands in contrast to the grandiosity of Byblos, claiming the title of being one of the ancient cities in Lebanon with continuous habitation since the day it was founded. The city's graceful stone arches and glorious columns are framed by the vast mountain ranges, creating a full-blown canvas for this laidback region.

Built under Caliph Al-Walid Ibn Abdel Malek, Aanjar flourished during the halcyon days of the Umayyad. A total of 40 towers and gates amid the brimming 600 shops (built solely of soft-toned tiers of brick) stand within the fortification walls, reflecting the obsession of Umayyad in protecting their territory. The ruins survived for about 50 years and were only unearthed in the 1960's. Other than the rich traces of its history, Aanjar is also active in trade, attributed to its auspicious location near the crossroads of Horns, Baalbek and Damascus.

Noticeably, the engineering and architecture of Aanjar are reminiscent of a Roman city - the presence of tetrapylon (a monument of cubic shape) and the employment of the cardo maximus or the north to south orientation of its lanes and colonnades. The technique of decumanus maximus (east to west) imbues its palaces, streets, souks and public baths, specifically the Great Palace, Majdal Aanjar, the Mausoleum of El Wali Zawur and the Kfar Zabad, a Roman temple and cave.

Today, these walls still narrate the history of the Umayyads. However, not all of the ruins are reconstructed; the imagination can help in putting back the missing pieces. In addition, donning a Grecian dress and making a grand entrance to the cobblestone colonnade of the main street of Aanjar will sure to add some twist to the experience - even just for a fleeting second.

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