The ancient city of Baalbek – aka Heliopolis, “City of the Sun” – is where the Romans, through their mastery of design and architecture, displayed their power of the Empire, a place where even hyperbole fails. It’s the largest Roman temple complex ever constructed – supported by the tallest columns attempted by ancient builders and hewn from the largest stones and quarried by human hands. Throw in a stunning, breathtaking setting on a high plateau in the verdant Bakaa Valley, with a backdrop of the low, snow-capped mountains, and Baalbek can easily lay claim to being the Middle East’s most impressive ancient ruins. As Mark Twain wrote, “Such grandeur of design, and such grace of execution, as one sees in the temples of Baalbek, have not been equaled…in any work of men’s hands”.
Baalbek dates back at least to the Greek empire in the 3rd century B.C, and it reached its true zenith under the Roman emperor Julius Caesar. Temples built to the Roman triad of Heliopolis – Bacchus, Jupiter, and Venus – helped maintain the town’s prominence until the establishment of Christianity in the 4th century spelled the end of its importance. Some 17 centuries later, the Temple of Bacchus remains Baalbek’s unrivalled highlight, a majestic site (named the best-preserved Roman temple in the world) surrounded by 42 Corinthian columns each rising 62 feet in height
The temples’ longevity lies in their expert craftsmanship and sturdy construction from Egyptian rose-pink granite, also used to build the 128 columns lining the Great Court, most of which is no longer standing. Massive stones appear throughout the Baalbek complex, some weighing 1,200 tons, including the massive foundation stones and blocks supporting the Temple of Jupiter. Scholars are still unsure how stones of such immense size and weight reached Baalbek and were hoisted into place.
Touring the complex can take hours: Recharge from the day’s heat with a post-visit drink from the rooftop bar at the Hotel Palmyra, a shabby-genteel relic from another era with views of the ruins, one of the few untouched old-time hotels left in the Middle East.
Where is Baalbek?
52 miles North East of Beirut.
Best time to visit?
November to February is coolest in temperature but June through August hosts the Baalbek International Festival, a festival of opera, classical music and jazz performances in the ruins.
Other places to visit in Jordan and Nearby:
In Israel, you have the landlocked Dead Sea located in the heart of a desert. In UAE, you have of course Dubai – read this Dubai essential travel guide for more info. In Jordan you have Jaresh, a city filled with old Roman temples and ruins. The King’s Highway in Jordan is so famous it was mentioned in the bible as a trade route from Israel to Mecca. Petra is an obvious attraction to many, dating back to 1200 BC and only recently discovered in the 18th century. Indiana Jones fans will love this place as it was featured in the 1989 classic Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
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License: Creative Commons image source
Kari is a travel writer for Solimartravel who is yet to visit the Middle East. You can follow Kari on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/byron_kari
About Douglas Smythe
