Lion Tower

Picture of the Lion Tower taken at the turn of the 20th century.

The Lion Tower (Arabic: برج السبع, Burj es-Sabaa) is a small fortress located at the far eastern end of the Tripoli harbor in North Lebanon. The tower was named after the relief decorations depicting lions that used to line the facade. The structure dates back to the end of the 15th century and is attributed to Mameluke Sultan Qaitbay.

The tower is considered an exceptional example of military Mameluke architecture. Its portico is adorned with stripes of black and white ashlar stones, and ancient Roman columns were laid down horizontally to reinforce the tower's wall. The ground floor is constituted by one single large room that was decorated with armorial carvings and paintings, traces of which can still be seen.[1]

References

  1. Carter, Terry; Lara Dunston; Amelia Thomas (2008). Syria & Lebanon (3 ed.). Lonely Planet. ISBN 9781741046090.

External links

Qantara Mediterranean Heritage - Lion Tower