Mystery and history are around every corner in Lebanon. It is really astounding to think about how many pieces of the human puzzle are contained in that tiny country. One of the most impressive historical sites is what my niece used to call as small child ‘the broken house’ 🙂
Baalbek, Baalbak, ancient Heliopolis, are names attributed to one of Lebanon’s greatest Roman treasures, and one of the ancient wonders of the world. Baalbek is on of the largest sanctuaries that stood as evidence to the great wealth and power of the Roman Empire at the time. The hill that the monumental remains stand on is known to have been settled for over 9000 years. After the time of Alexander the great, the sanctuary was named Heliopolis (city of the sun), and in its Jupiter temple, Trajan the Roman emperor consulted the oracle wether he would come back alive after his war against the Parthians.The god answered him with a vine shoot cut into pieces…
The complex contains the remains of the temple of Jupiter, Venus, and Bacchus. On a nearby hill is a 4th temple dedicated to Mercury. Other minor structures were added by Nero and Trajan.
As a world heritage site, today Baalbak hosts every year a great arts and music festival.
10 replies on “Day Five~ February 5th~ Lebanon”
I didn’t know about the temple in Baalbak, thanks for sharing this. We have a large Lebanese community in Pittsburgh; one of my favorite restaurants was called “Baalbek’s” – but I don’t think it is there anymore. Now I know where the name came from 🙂
now you know 🙂
Thank you again, and how extraordinary.. c
Thanks for reading Cecilia! You will love the food in lebanon too and the traditions of preparing it!
Interesting information. The Romans were incredible and their own worst enemies. Amazing photos but the bottom one I just love! When I see a great picture as such I think what it must have been like experiencing the moment as you clicked the shutter.
It truly was a stunning performance, especially considering the surroundings and the open air theater under the warm moonlit sky 🙂
Wow. Lucky you!
Don’t forget to check out the massive stones on which the Roman temple is built (which obviously pre date it).
We couldn’t achieve that kind of building (scale and precision) today. They are yet more evidence of the existence of a great civilisation which disappeared 10,000 + years ago.
Thanks for the link! and for your visit 🙂
FYI…. Did you know your blog design doesn’t seem to highlight words which are links? (at least not on my macbook screen). For instance there are two links on my comment but you have to hover the mouse over them to find them! 🙂
Oh, it’s true!! In my dashboard they are highlighted but not here. I will have to check this out