Nestled in an ancient quarry just 900 meters from the Heliopolis temple complex lies the Stone of the Pregnant Woman (Arabic: حجر الحبلي, romanized: Ḥajar el-Ḥible), also known as the First Monolith. Although it is the smallest of the three giant monoliths found in the area, it is the most famous, owing to its fine condition, its imposing angle, and the fact that it has never been fully buried by earth.
In 1996, a geodetic team from the Austrian city of Linz conducted topographical measurements at the site to establish the exact dimensions of the monoliths and explore their potential use in the construction of the gigantic Jupiter temple. Their calculations revealed that the block weighs an impressive 1,000.12 tons, confirming older estimations by experts such as Jean-Pierre Adam.
The rectangular stone block measures:
- Length: 20.31–20.76 meters
- Width at the base: 4 meters
- Width at the top: 4.14–5.29 meters
- Height: 4.21–4.32 meters
- Estimated density: 2.6–2.8 g/cm³
The origins of the monolith’s name are shrouded in legend. One story suggests it is named after a pregnant woman who tricked the people of Baalbek into feeding her until she gave birth by claiming she knew how to move the giant stone. Another legend says the stone was cut and moved by pregnant jinn, while a third belief holds that touching the stone increases a woman’s fertility.
The Stone of the Pregnant Woman remains an enduring symbol of ancient ingenuity and legend, attracting visitors from around the world to marvel at its size and the mysteries surrounding its creation and purpose.
