Whenever we find evidence of highly advanced civilizations from all over the world, that reminds us how important it is to study and understand them. One such civilization is clearly shown by the colossal ruins Baalbek. The site is located at the Beqaa Valley of Leaonon which has many ruins of the ancient Roman Empire. Some excavation evidence show that the site Tell Baalbek belongs to the Neolithic or Iron age. Earlier this was known as Heliopolis which means the city of the sun. City is mainly served as a religious sanctuary with beautiful temples which now stand in ruins.
The city has a complex which is complete with the temples dedicated to gods Jupiter, Bacchus, Venus and Mercury built by the Romans. The city was colonized in 193 by Septimius Severus. If we look into the temples again, the main temple was for the Heliopolitan Zeus aka God Jupiter. There are columns standing surrounding the temples. There were 54 Jupiter columns that raised up to a height of 19m or so. The sloppy condition of the area made the Romans built retaining walls at the cardinal directions spreading over 19m with 4.3m in height.
It became likely a customary among other rulers of the Roman Empire to add few things to the sanctuary. The tower-altar opposite the Temple of Jupiter was from Nero in 54-68 CE. The forecourt to the Temple of Jupiter is by Trajan. Temple of Bacchus was from Antoninus Pius while Septimius Severus built a pentagonal temple of Venus. Emperor Philip the Arab added the hexagonal forecourt.
Baalbek went under an Islamic reign also. Abu Ubaida ibn al-Jarrah in 637 CE got hold of the city which was fortified and renamed as al-Qala. In 1517 it became part of the Ottoman Empire along with the Syria. The city was also shaken by three earthquakes.
Travellers' Guide
If you are planning to visit Blaabek, don't forget forget to visit these hotels.
Hotel JupiterRue abdel halim hajjar,
Baalbek , Lebanon
Telephone+961 370 151
Hotel Pension Jammal
Rue abdel halim hajjar,
Baalbek , Lebanon
Telephone+961 370 649
Hotel Shouman
Ras al-ain blvd, Town centre,
Baalbek , Lebanon
Telephone+961 3 796 077
Palmyra Hotel
Rue abdel halim hajjar, Town centre,
Baalbek , Lebanon
Telephone+961 8 370 230
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