Baalbek, Lebanon

Baalbek is a small town located in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon. It is situated at an altitude of 1,170 metres towards the east of the Litani River. It is very much popular for their elegantly detailed temple ruin which belongs to the Roman period, popularly known as Heliopolis, Baalbek was then ranked among the largest sanctuaries in the Empire. It is supposed to be the Lebanon’s best Roman treasure. It is also counted among the ancient world’s wonder. Also it described as the most noble as well as the largest Roman built. They are also the best preserved temples.

Baalbek stands high up on the Beqaa plain. The wealth and power that the Majestic Rome possessed could be easily noticed in its monuments. You can feel the influences of the locals in the layout and the planning of the temple; it was very much different from that of the classic Roman design.

Baalbek International Festival is annually held every year in Baalbek. The place is located at a distance of about 85km in the north east direction of Beirut and it placed at a distance of 75 km in the northern direction of Damascus. The total population of the town is about 72,000. The human inhabitants are found in Baalbek from almost 9000 years ago. Most of the people were settled beneath the temple of Jupiter.

The Bible archaeologists in the 19th century were trying to connect Baalbek with the Baalgad. This statement was not taken up in the modern times. The Baalbek city lacked the strategical as well as the commercial importance that could make it deserve a place in the Egyptian or the Assyrian records. The town was much uncovered.

UNESCO declared Baalbek as a World Heritage Site in the Site 1984. UNESCO stated that “Baalbek, with its colossal structures, is one of the finest examples of Imperial Roman architecture at its apogee”. The committed wanted that protected area included the whole town which lay between the Arab walls and also included the external Quarter which lay between the Mameluk mosque of Ras-al-Ain and the roman site Bastan-al-khan. The representative from Lebanon promised to full-fill the committee’s wish.

In 637 AD the city of Baalbek was been captured by a Muslim army which was been supervised by Abu Ubaida ibn al-Jarrah. They defeated the city’s army named Byzantine in the Battle of Yarmouk. Baalbek that time was a luxurious city which gave way rich valuables. It became a reason for the various controversies that took between the different Syrian Dynasties. The Caliphs of Damascus were the first in controversies followed by the Egypt. In 748 the city took the name of al-Qala. The place was a well-equipped one. The Byzantine emperor John Tzimisces defeated the city again in 975. The Seljuks took over the city in 1090 and the handed it over to the Zengi in 1134. The city was under the control of Damascus after 1145 till 1175 when the Crusaders took over it. Also an earthquake took place in the city for about three times. In1260 the city was actually dismantled.

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