Archaeology
BaalbekHeliopolis*Place descriptionBaalbek was strategically located on a trade route that led to Damascus or Palmyra. Fragments of remains date the site to the Early Bronze Age. Traces of the Middle Bronze Age settlements have been uncovered. There was a Bronze Age Tell beneath the Great Court of the Jupiter temple. In the 3rd century BC, Baalbek was named as Heliopolis by the Ptolemaic dynasty. It was fallen into the hands of the Seleucids in the 2nd century BC. Between 100 and 75BC, the Itrureans ruled the city shortly. In 63BC, Pompey passed by this city during his campaign in the East. Mark Antony later gave the whole Syria, including Baalbek, to Cleopatra. The city was settled by the veterans of the Roman legions at around 16BC. During the Byzantine period, Constantine closed the Great Court. In AD440, Theodosius destroyed it and replaced it with a church. In AD636, the Arabs took over Syria, and the name Heliopolis was subsequently replaced by its original Semitic name. The temple was subsequently transformed into a citadel. The temples of Baalbek were characterized by their east-west orientation. A monumental stairway provided access to the platform. Three doors led to a hexagonal court. Three gates subsequently led to the Great Court, which was an artificial platform constructed over a substructure for storage and stables. Two altars and pools were also located in the court. At the latter part of the 3rd century AD, a dome was imposed on the hexagonal court, which was converted into the Church of the Virgin. In order to build a basilica dedicated to St Peter, the Christians removed the two altars of the temple. Dated to the Augustan period, the Temple of Jupiter was another temple in the city and it was built on a high podium. There was also a monumental staircase leading to the courtyard. Nine gigantic columns stood at the exterior of the temple. Similar to the Temple of Jupita, the Temple of Baachus was also built on a high podium. The temple was built in the 2nd century AD. Divided into three stages, a stairway led to the temple’s pronaos. There was a monumental gate in front of the cella. The interior of the cella was richly decorated with columns. At the rear of the cella, there was an adytum on a higher level. Built in the 3rd century AD, the Temple of Venus was located southeast of the Acropolis. Its podium and entablature comprised five concave sections connected by Corinthian columns. During the Arab period, the Acropolis consisted mainly of fortifications. There were also a mosque, living quarters and storage rooms dating between the 12th and 13th centuries. Located at the east of the acropolis, the Great Mosque also replaced the position of a Roman forum. |