Lebanon: Roman Baalbek

Baalbek is the number one destination for many visitors to Lebanon. I was fraught with anxiety trying to figure out how to get there. In the end, transport was easier than we expected. Baalbek is the heartland of Hezbollah. We drove through a dozen checkpoints, many unguarded, and never got stopped. The drive took us among the snow topped mountain, though it's pretty well populated the whole way.

Unlike most archeological sites, Baalbeck requires no imagination. The splendor of Roman engineering, craftsmanship, and extravagance is still amply evident, centuries and earthquakes later. 1) The Temple of Jupiter is not just a temple, it's a whole complex. 2) The columns are the largest columns from antiquity 3) The Temple of Bacchus, while smaller, is arguably the best preserved Roman temple, certainly the most decorative.

We didn't walk around town. I would have looked at the older men and wondered who might have been involved in guarding hostages during the Lebanon Hostage Crisis.

Note to fellow travellers: Moving minivans (not waiting until full) go through the Kuwait Embassy roundabout, Sahel Hospital roundabout, Mar Michael roundabout on their way out of town towards Baalbek, 300K LL ($1=106K LL). On the way back we got combined into a waiting van at Chtoura, which took off as soon as we got in.

Our minivan to Baalbek first goes east and up, up over the mountains, then down into the Beqaa Valley. Then we drive north through several prosperous looking towns, one has a McDonald's toward Baalbek. All along there are great views to the snow capped Mount Lebanon range to the west.








The highlight of the Baalbek (Roman Heliopolis) Archaeological Site is the Temple of Jupiter.


We walked up the monumental stairs.




Through the Hexagonal Court.


Which opens up to the Sacrifiical Courtyard .






Up another monumental staircase into the sanctuary.


Looking back across the Sacrificial Court from the top of the sancturay stairs.




In the Sanctuary, 6 out of 54 of the 29 meter high, unfluted, Corinthian columns remain standing. Amazing! In this photo, I'm standing at the bottom of one of the columns.








A corner of the temple pediment lies on the ground below, along with some roof drains in the form of a lion's head and mouth.






Next to, and below, the Temple of Jupiter is the Temple of Bacchus, one of the most complete Roman temple ruins.








The return trip to Baalbek.