Baalbek

Modern Baalbek is a town in the Bekaa valley of Lebanon , altitude 3,850 ft (1,170 m), situated east of the Litani River . It is famous for its exquisitely detailed but monumentally scaled temple ruins of the Roman period, when Baalbek, known as Heliopolis was one of the largest sanctuaries in the Empire. Overview of Baalbek 19th century Bible archaeologists wanted to connect Baalbek to the " Baalgad " mentioned in Joshua 11:17, but the assertion has not been taken up in modern times. In fact, this minor Phoenician city, named for the "Lord (Baal) of the Beqaa valley" lacked enough commercial or strategic importance to rate a mention in Assyrian or Egyptian records so far uncovered, according to Hélène Sader, professor of archaeology at the American University of Beirut. Nevertheless, it must have been the site of an oracle from earliest times, for oracles are not lightly founded. It retained its religious function during Roman times, when the sanctuary of the Heliopolitan Jupiter-Baal was a pilgrimage site. Trajan 's biographer records that the Emperor consulted the oracle there. Trajan inquired of the Heliopolitan Jupiter whether he would return alive from his wars against the Parthians . In reply, the god presented him with a vine shoot cut into pieces. Theodosius Macrobius , a Latin grammarian of the 5th century AD, mentioned Zeus Heliopolitanus and the temple, a place of oracular divination. Temple of Jupiter The city Trajan was visiting was known as Heliopolis during the Hellenistic and Roman times. "Baalbek, with its colossal structures, is one of the finest examples of Imperial Roman architecture at its apogee," UNESCO reported in making Baalbek a World Heritage Site in 1984. When the Committee inscribed the site, it expressed the wish that the protected area include the entire town within the Arab walls, as well as the south-western extramural quarter between Bastan-al-Khan, the Roman site and the Mameluk mosque of Ras-al-Ain. Lebanon's representative gave assurances that the Committee's wish would be honored. German archaeological teams began the modern digs at Baalbek in 1898, but the colossal and picturesque ruins had attracted particularly intrepid Westerners since the 18th century. Wood and Dawson made engravings of the ruins (1757) that brought their details into the repertory of British and European architects, just coinciding with the first stirrings of Neoclassicism .

Place in Beqaa Governorate, Lebanon Temple of Bacchus Details inside Temple of Bacchus Baalbek ( / ALA-LC : Baʻalbik , Lebanese pronunciation: ) or Baalbeck is a town in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon situated east of the Litani River . Known as Heliopolis ( ) during the period of Roman rule, it was one of the largest sanctuaries in the empire and contains some of the best preserved Roman ruins in Lebanon. The gods that were worshipped at the temple – Jupiter , Venus , and Bacchus – were grafted onto the indigenous deities of Hadad , Atargatis , and a young male god of fertility. Local influences are seen in the planning and layout of the temples, which vary from the classic Roman design. Baalbeck is home to the annual Baalbeck International Festival . The town is about 85 km (53 mi) northeast of Beirut and about 75 km (47 mi) north of Damascus . It has a population of approximately 82,608, mostly Shia Muslims .

City in Baalbek-Hermel, Lebanon Baalbek ( / ˈ b ɑː l b ɛ k , ˈ b eɪ ə l b ɛ k / ; , Syriac-Aramaic : ܒܥܠܒܟ) is a city located east of the Litani River in Lebanon 's Beqaa Valley , about 67 km (42 mi) northeast of Beirut . It is the capital of Baalbek-Hermel Governorate . In Greek and Roman times Baalbek was also known as Heliopolis ( Ἡλιούπολις , Greek for "Sun City"). In 1998 Baalbek had a population of 82,608, mostly Shia Muslims , followed by Sunni Muslims and Christians . It is home to the Baalbek temple complex which includes two of the largest and grandest Roman temple ruins: the Temple of Bacchus and the Temple of Jupiter . It was inscribed in 1984 as an UNESCO World Heritage site. American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).

City in Baalbek-Hermel, Lebanon Not to be confused with Balbec, Indiana , in the United States. City in Baalbek-Hermel, Lebanon Baalbek ( / ˈ b ɑː l b ɛ k , ˈ b eɪ ə l b ɛ k / ; ; Syriac-Aramaic : ܒܥܠܒܟ) is a city located east of the Litani River in Lebanon 's Beqaa Valley , about 67 km (42 mi) northeast of Beirut . It is the capital of Baalbek-Hermel Governorate . In Greek and Roman times, Baalbek was also known as Heliopolis ( Ἡλιούπολις , Greek for "Sun City"). In 1998, Baalbek had a population of 82,608, mostly Shia Muslims , followed by Sunni Muslims and Christians . It is home to the Baalbek temple complex which includes two of the largest and grandest Roman temple ruins: the Temple of Bacchus and the Temple of Jupiter . It was inscribed in 1984 as an UNESCO World Heritage site. American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).

City in Baalbek-Hermel, Lebanon Not to be confused with Balbec, Indiana , in the United States. City in Baalbek-Hermel, Lebanon Baalbek ( / ˈ b ɑː l b ɛ k , ˈ b eɪ ə l b ɛ k / ; Arabic : بَعْلَبَكّ , romanized : Baʿlabakk ; Syriac : ܒܥܠܒܟ ) is a city located east of the Litani River in Lebanon 's Beqaa Valley , about 67 km (42 mi) northeast of Beirut . It is the capital of Baalbek-Hermel Governorate . In 1998, the city had a population of 82,608. Most of the population consists of Shia Muslims , followed by Sunni Muslims and Christians ; in 2017, there was also a large presence of Syrian refugees . Baalbek has a history that dates back at least 11,000 years, encompassing significant periods such as Prehistoric , Canaanite , Hellenistic , and Roman eras. After Alexander the Great conquered the city in 334 BCE, he renamed it Heliopolis ( Ἡλιούπολις , Greek for "Sun City"). The city flourished under Roman rule. However, it underwent transformations during the Christianization period and the subsequent rise of Islam following the Arab conquest in the 7th century . In later periods, the city was sacked by the Mongols and faced a series of earthquakes, resulting in a decline in importance during the Ottoman and modern periods. In the modern era, Baalbek enjoys economic advantages as a sought-after tourist destination. It is known for the ruins of the Roman temple complex, which includes the Temple of Bacchus and the Temple of Jupiter , and was inscribed in 1984 as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Other tourist attractions are the Great Umayyad Mosque , the Baalbek International Festival , the mausoleum of Sit Khawla, and a Roman quarry site named Hajar al-Hibla . Baalbek's tourism sector has encountered challenges due to conflicts in Lebanon, particularly the 1975–1990 civil war , the ongoing Syrian civil war since 2011, and the Israel–Hezbollah conflict (2023–present). Baalbek is considered to be part of Hezbollah group's heartland and is known to be their political stronghold. During the Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon (1982–2000), the group managed to overpower the Lebanese army in Baalbek and gain control of the city. The settlement was subsequently used as a base to recruit and train men for attacks against Israeli forces. Hezbollah continues to hold significant political influence and popular support in Baalbek. In the 2022 Lebanese general election the Amal -Hezbollah list won 9 out of 10 seats in the Baalbek-Hermel Governorate. Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes and raids against military and civilian targets in the Baalbek area in the past decades. In 2024, during the Israel–Hezbollah conflict, Israel sent forced displacement calls for the entire city. Shortly after, Israeli airstrikes killed 19 people, including 8 women. American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language . Historical Dictionary of Lebanon . Historical Dictionaries of Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East (2nd ed.). Israeli war with Hezbollah cripples tourism in ancient city of Baalbek . The town of Baalbek is a Hezbollah stronghold and was the scene of Israeli commando raids in 2006 and some rocket fire from Syria in recent years due to the civil war. Israeli war with Hezbollah cripples tourism in ancient city of Baalbek . In the Path of Hizbullah . The Global Footprint of Lebanon's Party of God (Updated ed.). "Culture, tourism, and territory: Analyzing discourses and perceptions of actors in Byblos and Baalbek in Lebanon". The List Of Who Won In The Bekaa III (Baalbek-Hermel) District In Lebanon's Elections 2022" . 16 May 2022. Human Rights Watch . 19 (5): 124– 129. Voice of America . 23 March 2024 . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).