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Baalbek
Baalbeck, the Roman Heliopolis – the town of the sun - as it was named by the Romans, lies underneath the present Ba'albeck. The name originated in the ancient Semitic languages and is formed of two parts meaning “ Lord - god – of the plains “, although some researchers believe the name is rendered to “ The Lord –god- of weeping and mourning “ , that is Adon or Adonis. Baalbeck, Lebanon's greatest Roman treasure, can be counted among the wonders of the ancient world. Baalbeck is home to the largest and best preserved Roman temples ever built.
Towering high above the Beqaa plain, their monumental proportions proclaimed the power and wealth of Imperial Rome. The gods worshipped here – the Triad of Jupiter, Venus and Mercury – were grafted onto the indigenous deities of Hadad, Atargatis and a young male god of fertility. Local influences are also seen in the planning and layout of the temples, which vary from the classic Roman design. Baalbeck is located on two main historic trade routes: one between the Mediterranean coast and the Syrian interior and the other between northern Syria and northern Palestine. Today, the city, 85 kilometers from Beirut, is an important administrative and economic center in the northern Beqaa valley.
Over the centuries, Baalbeck’s monuments suffered from theft, war and earthquakes, and were obscured by medieval fortifications and additions. But even in ruin the site attracted the admiration of visitors, and its historical importance was recognized. Fortunately, the modern visitor can see the site in something close to its original form, thanks to work in the past hundred years by German, French and Lebanese archaeologists. In 1984, Baalbeck was placed on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.
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