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Business
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Community
Services
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Baalbeck,
Lebanon's
greatest
Roman
treasure,
can
be
counted
among
the
wonders
of
the
ancient
world.
The
largest
and
most
noble
Roman
temples
ever
built,
they
are
also
among
the
best
preserved.
Towering
high
above
the
Beqaa
plain,
their
monumental
proportions
proclaimed
the
power
and
wealth
of
Imperial
Rome.
The
gods
worshipped
here,
the
Triad
of
Jupiter,
Venus
and
Mercury,
were
grafted
onto
the
indigenous
deities
of
Hadad,
Atargatis
and
a
young
male
god
of
fertility.
Local
influences
are
also
seen
in
the
planning
and
layout
of
the
temples,
which
vary
from
the
classic
Roman
design.
Over
the
centuries
Baalbeck's
monuments
suffered
from
theft,
war
and
earthquakes,
as
well
as
from
numerous
medieval
additions.
Fortunately,
the
modern
visitor
can
see
the
site
in
something
close
to
its
original
form
thanks
to
work
in
the
past
hundred
years
by
German,
French
and
Lebanese
archaeologists.
Baalbeck
is
located
on
two
main
historic
trade
routes,
one
between
the
Mediterranean
coast
and
the
Syrian
interior
and
the
other
between
northern
Syria
and
northern
Palestine.
Today
the
city,
85
kilometers
from
Beirut,
is
an
important
administrative
and
economic
center
in
the
northern
Beqaa
valley.
The
Temples
In
History
For
centuries
the
temples
of
Baalbeck
lay
under
meters
of
rubble,
obscured
by
medieval
fortifications.
But
even
in
ruin
the
site
attracted
the
admiration
of
visitors
and
its
historical
importance
was
recognized.
The
first
survey
and
restoration
work
at
Baalbeck
was
begun
by
the
German
Archaeological
Mission
in
1898.
In
1922
French
scholars
undertook
extensive
research
and
restoration
of
the
temples,
work
which
was
continued
by
the
Lebanese
Directorate
General
of
Antiquities.
Baalbeck's
temples
were
built
on
an
ancient
tell
that
goes
back
at
least
to
the
end
of
the
third
millennium
B.C.
Little
is
known
about
the
site
during
this
period,
but
there
is
evidence
that
in
the
course
of
the
1rst
millennium
B.C.
an
enclosed
court
was
built
on
the
ancient
tell.
An
altar
was
set
in
the
center
of
this
court
in
the
tradition
of
the
biblical
Semitic
high
places. |
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The
famous
six
columns
of
Baalbeck
Lion's
head
decoration
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During
the
Hellenistic
period
(333-64
B.C.)
the
Greeks
identified
the
god
of
Baalbeck
with
the
sun
god
and
the
city
was
called
Heliopolis
or
City
of
the
Sun.
At
this
time
the
ancient
enclosed
court
was
enlarged
and
a
podium
was
erected
on
its
western
side
to
support
a
temple
of
classical
form.
Although
the
temple
was
never
built,
some
huge
construction
from
the
Hellenistic
project
can
still
be
seen.
And
it
was
over
the
ancient
court
that
the
Romans
placed
the
present
Great
Court
of
the
Temple
of
Jupiter. |
Aerial
view
of
the
Acropolis |
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The
temple
was
begun
in
the
last
quarter
of
the
1rst
century
B.C.,
and
was
nearing
completion
in
the
final
years
of
Nero's
reign
(37-68
A.D.).
the
Great
Court
Complex
of
the
temple
of
Jupiter,
with
its
porticoes,
exedrae,
altars
and
basins,
was
built
in
the
2nd
century
A.D.
Construction
of
the
so-called
temple
of
Bacchus
was
also
started
about
this
time.
The
Propylaea
and
the
Hexagonal
Court
of
the
Jupiter
temple
were
added
in
the
3rd
century
under
the
Severan
Dynasty
(193-235
A.D.)
and
work
was
presumably
completed
in |
the
mid-3rd
century.
The
small
circular
structure
known
as
the
Temple
of
Venus,
was
probably
finished
at
this
time
as
well.
When
Christianity
was
declared
an
official
religion
of
the
Roman
Empire
in
313
A.D.,
Byzantine
Emperor
Constantine
officially
closed
the
Baalbeck
temples.
At
the
end
of
the
4th
century,
the
Emperor
Theodosius
tore
down
the
altars
of
Jupiter's
Great
Court
and
built
a
basilica
using
the
temple's
stones
and
architectural
elements.
The
remnants
of
the
three
apses
of
this
basilica,
originally
oriented
to
the
west,
can
still
be
seen
in
the
upper
part
of
the
stairway
of
the
Temple
of
Jupiter.
After
the
Arab
conquest
in
636
the
temples
were
transformed
into
a
fortress,
or
qal'a,
a
term
still
applied
to
the
Acropolis
today.
During
the
next
centuries
Baalbeck
fell
successively
to
the
Omayyad,
Abbasid,
Toulounid,
Fatimid
and
Ayyoubid
dynasties.
Sacked
by
the
Mongols
about
1260,
Baalbeck
later
enjoyed
a
period
of
calm
and
prosperity
under
Mamluke
rule. |
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top |
T
H
E
S
I
G
H
T
S
The
temple
complex
of
Baalbeck
is
made
up
of
the
Jupiter
Temple
and
the
Bacchus
Temple
adjacent
to
it.
A
short
distance
away
is
the
circular
structure
known
as
the
Temple
of
Venus.
Only
part
of
the
staircase
remains
of
a
fourth
temple
dedicated
to
Mercury,
on
Kheikh
Abdallah
hill. |
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The
Great
Temple
or
"Jupiter
Temple"
The
first
view
the
visitor
has
of
Baalbeck
is
the
six
Corinthian
columns
of
the
Great
Temple
thrusting
22
meters
into
the
skyline.
Built
on
a
podium
seven
meters
above
the
Court,
these
six
columns
and
the
entablature
on
top
give
an
idea
of
the
vast
scale
of
the
original
structure.
The
complex
of
the
Great
Temple
has
four
sections:
the
monumental
entrance
or
Propylaea,
the
Hexagonal
Court,
the
Great
Court
and
finally
the
Temple
itself,
where
the
six
famous
columns
stand.
The
Propylaea
The
Propylaea
completed
in
the
mid-3rd
century
A.D.,
is
approached
by
a
large
semicircle
of
stone
benches
and
a
partially |
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The
Propylaea
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restored
stairway.
The
entrance
structure
has
towers
at
either
end
and
is
fronted
by
12
granite
columns.
An
interior
stairway
goes
to
the
top
of
the
Propylaea
where
there
is
an
excellent
view
of
the
area. |
The
Hexagonal
Forecourt
Three
doors
lead
to
the
Hexagonal
Forecourt
where
30
granite
columns
originally
supported
the
entablature.
This
six-sided
form
was
built
between
the
Propylaea
and
the
Great
Court
in
the
first
half
of
the
3rd
century
A.D.
At
the
end
of
the
4rth
century
or
the
early
5th
century,
it
was
covered
with
a
dome
and
transformed
into
a
church.
The
Great
Court
Built
in
the
2nd
century
A.D.,
covered
an |
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The
Exedrae
around
the
Great
Court |
area
134x112
meters
and
contained
the
main
installation
of
the
cult.
Structurally,
the
court
is
a
platform
built
on
the
leveled-off
top
of
the
ancient
artificial
tell.
The
tell
was
consolidated
on
the
eastern,
northern
and
southern
sides
by
vaulted
substructures,
and
on
the
western
side
by
the
temple's
podium.
These
substructures
supported
the
porticos
and
exedrae
around
the
Court
and
were
used
for
stables
and
storage.
Two
huge
structures
stand
in
the
center
of
the
Great
Court:
a
restored
sacrificial
altar
and
a
tower
with
only
the
lower
courses
remaining.
The
tower,
dating
from
the
beginning
of
the
1st
century
A.D.,
was
probably
built
to
allow
the
worshipers
to
view
the
proceedings
from
the
top.
It
was
flanked
by
two
solitary
columns
of
gray
and
red
granite.
two
pools
for
ritual
washing,
decorated
with
relief
carvings,
were
placed
north
and
south
of
both
altar
and
tower.
these
structures
were
destroyed
when
a
Christian
basilica
was
built
on
the
site
at
the
end
of
the
4th
century.
The
entire
Court
was
enclosed
by
a
succession
of
rectangular
and
semi-circular
exedrae
or
recesses
decorated
by
niches
which
contained
statues.
Surrounding
the
Court,
in
front
of
the
exedrae,
was
an
84-column
Corinthian
colonnade
of
Egyptian
granite.
on
the
exterior
walls
of
the
Court
the
remains
of
medieval
battlements
can
still
be
seen.
Temple
of
Jupiter
After
passing
through
the
Propylaea,
the
Hexagonal
Forecourt
and
Great
Court,
the
worshiper
at
last
arrived
at
the
Temple
of
Jupiter.
This
approach
to
the
sanctuary
through
a
series
of
defined
spaces
was
an
apparent
oriental
adaptation.
The
Temple
measures
88x48
meters
and
stands
on
a
podium
13
meters
above
the
surrounding
terrain
and
7
meters
above
the
courtyard.
It
is
reached
by
a
monumental
stairway.
Originally
surrounded
by
54
external
columns,
most
of
these
now
lie
in
fragments
on
the
ground.
The
six
standing
columns
are
joined
by
an
entablature
decorated
with
a
frieze
of
bulls
and
lions'
heads
connected
by
garlands.
The
Podium
is
built
with
some
of
the
largest
stone
blocks
ever
hewn.
On
the
west
side
of
the
podium
is
the
"Trilithon",
a
celebrated
group
of
three
enormous
stones
weighing
about
800
tons
each. |
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The
Little
Temple
or
the
"Temple
of
Bacchus"
Next
to
the
Jupiter
complex
is
a
separate
building
known
as
the
Temple
of
Bacchus.
Constructed
during
the
first
half
of
the
2nd
century
A.D.,
it
has
been
remarkably
well
preserved.
While
the
Great
Temple
was
dedicated
to
the
public
cult
of
the
Heliopolitan
Triad,
the
little
temple
was
apparently
consecrated
to
a
mysterious
and
initiatic
cult
centered
around
the
young
god
of
Baalbeck.
This
god
was
identified
as
a
solar
and
growth
deity, |
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Temple
of
Bacchus |
whose
birth
and
growth
promised
regeneration
and
eternal
life
to
the
faithful.
Wine
and
other
drugs,
such
as
opium,
may
have
been
used
by
the
worshipers
and
it
was
the
carvings
of
grapes
and
poppies
on
the
main
door
jamb
and
some
carved
Bacchic
scenes,
which
suggested
the
temple's
identification
with
Bacchus.
Thirty-three
steps
lead
up
to
the
entrance
and
the
whole
structure
sits
on
a
platform
five
meters
high.
The
entrance
through
the
lofty
monumental
gate
and
the
view
of
its
ornate
interior
constitute
one
of
the
loveliest
sights
of
Baalbeck.
The
stairs
on
either
side
of
the
doorway
may
have
had
some
ritual
function.
The
15th
century
tower
at
the
corner
of
this
temple
is
a
good
example
of
the
Mamluke
fortifications
of
Baalbeck.
From
the
top
of
the
tower
a
view
can
be
had
of
the
surrounding
area. |
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The
Round
Temple
or
the
"Temple
of
Venus"
The
gem-like
temple
southeast
of
the
acropolis
was
built
in
the
3rd
century
A.D.
Its
design
and
size,
as
well
as
its
orientation
towards
the
Great
Temple,
set
it
apart
from
the
other
Baalbeck
temples.
These
attributes
also
help
identify
it
as
the
temple
of
the
Fortune
of
Baalbeck,
that
is
the
tutelary
divinity
of
the
City,
under
the
protection
of
its
great
gods.
It
was
not
by
accident
that
during
the
Byzantine
period
it
was
converted
into
a
church
dedicated
to
Saint
Barbara,
who
is
the
patron
saint
of
Baalbeck
to
this
day.
Near
the
Temple
of
Venus
are
the
remains
of
"The
Temple
of
the
Muses",
dating
from
the
beginning
of
the
1st
century
A.D. |
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Back
to
top |
A
R
O
U
N
D
T
H
E
T
O
W
N
There
are
a
number
of
other
Roman
remains
and
Islamic
sites
to
visit
in
Baalbeck
and
its
immediate
neighborhood. |
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The
Great
Omayyad
Mosque |
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The
Great
Mosque
In
front
of
the
acropolis
entrance,
this
mosque
dates
from
the
7th-8th
centuries
of
the
Omayyad
period.
Built
on
what
was
the
site
of
the
Roman
forum
and
later
a
Byzantine
church
dedicated
to
St.
John,
the
mosque
re-uses
granite
and
limestone
columns.
There
is
a
square
minaret
in
the
north-west
corner
of
the
courtyard. |
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Public
buildings
At
Boustan
el-Khan
south
of
the
temples
are
important
remains
of
public
baths,
a
market
and
probably
a
bouleuterion,
or
assembly
hall.
Ras
El-Ain
This
ancient
spring,
now
incorporated
into
modern
Baalbeck,
has
been
a
source
of
water
since
antiquity.
Here
are
traces
of
a
Roman
shrine
and
nympheun
as
well
as
remains
of
a
Mamluke
mosque
built
in
1277.
Quarries
At
the
southern
entrance
of
town
is
a
quarry
where
the
stones
used
in
the
temples
were
cut.
A
huge
block,
considered
the
largest
hewn
stone
in
the
world,
still
sits
where
it
was
cut
almost
2,000
years
ago.
Called
the
"Stone
of
the
Pregnant
Woman",
it
is
21.5m
x
4.8m
x
4.2meters
in
size
and
weighs
an
estimated
1,000
tons.
There
is
another
quarry
at
Al-Kiyyâl,
southwest
of
town
after
Qoubbat
Douris.
Quoubbat
al-Amjad
On
Sheikh
Abdallah
Hill
are
the
remains
of
the
Zawiya
-
Mosque
and
tomb
of
"Sheikh
Abdallah
Al-Youmînî",
built
under
the
rule
of
Al-Amjad,
grand
nephew
of
Saladin
and
governor
of
Baalbeck
between
1182
and
1230.
It
was
constructed
of
stones
from
the
neighboring
temple
of
Mercury.
City
Gate
Northwest
of
the
Acropolis
near
the
army
barracks
lie
the
remains
of
a
Roman
city
gate,
part
of
the
fortifications
that
surrounded
the
city.
Qoubbat
as-Saadin
Not
far
from
the
City
Gate
is
a
two-room
mausoleum
built
in
1409,
which
served
as
a
burial
place
for
the
Mamluke
governors
of
Baalbeck.
Qoubbat
Douris
At
the
southern
entrance
of
town
is
the
site
of
an
octagonal
structure
composed
of
eight
Roman
granite
columns.
Built
during
the
13th
century,
it
was
originally
covered
with
a
cupola
and
held
an
Ayyoubid
tomb. |
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