Musaylah - Lebanese "gatehouse"
The lonely standing rock near the Tripoli-Jubail road became a convenient place to build a fortification on it, which received the uncomplicated Arabic name El Museylyah, which means “gatehouse, guard post”. Indeed, the length of the fortified extension from the northwest to the southeast is about 50 m (up to 5 m), and the greatest width (along the north – south line) is about 30 m (up to 3 m). The three-tier structure is not very suitable for living, and the garrison obviously lived in secondary structures, and in the event of an attack, took its place at the embrasures.
The stronghold was built, as it was supposed, at the beginning of the 17th century. under the Lebanese ruler Fakhr ad-Din Bin Maan (reigned in 1590 – 1633) in the course of his preparation for the war with the Ottoman Empire. The guard post was not intended for long-term defense, since it was obvious that it was not supposed to place artillery in it, as evidenced by the lack of places prepared for the use of even small guns. The task of the garrison was to signal the attack on the road and hold out until help arrived from Jubeil or Tripoli.
The stronghold was built, as it was supposed, at the beginning of the 17th century. under the Lebanese ruler Fakhr ad-Din Bin Maan (reigned in 1590 – 1633) in the course of his preparation for the war with the Ottoman Empire. The guard post was not intended for long-term defense, since it was obvious that it was not supposed to place artillery in it, as evidenced by the lack of places prepared for the use of even small guns. The task of the garrison was to signal the attack on the road and hold out until help arrived from Jubeil or Tripoli.
View of the fortress from the road Tripoli - Jubail. Visible staircase leading to the entrance
View of the fortress from the south
View of the fortress from the north
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