... Great view of one of the largest Roman temples still standing today and part of the Baalbek archaeological site... Baalbek's impressive Temple of Bacchus is often described as the most beautifully decorated temple in the Roman world, and it's certainly one of the best preserved.... this temple was (likely) dedicated to Bacchus (also called Dionysus)... he was the god of wine-making, fruit, fertility, festivity, ritual madness, theater, insanity, and more (aka the fun party god)... his worship was adopted by the Romans from the Greeks... Baalbek is one of the most prized historical sites in the Middle East and the world...Thanks a lot Amelia!(✿◠‿◠)
Baalbek is a modern city in the eastern part of Lebanon, close to the Syrian border in the Beqaa Valley and serves as the headquarters of the Hezbollah Islamist militant group.
The site was once a thriving Phoenician city known as Heliopolis (“Sun City”).The Bacchus temple was likely built in the 2nd century and possibly commissioned by Emperor Antoninus Pius.
The portico has eight columns along the facade and 15 along the sides, supporting a rich entablature and an exterior ceiling of curved stone that is decorated with vivid scenes: Mars, a winged Victory, Diana drawing an arrow, Tyche with a cornucopia, Vulcan with his hammer, Bacchus, and Ceres holding a sheaf of corn.
The Temple of Bacchus became an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
Famous People
(Issued 23-05-2011)
No comments:
Post a Comment