THE TEMPLE OF THE TEMPLE OF BACCHUS AT BAALBEKBACCHUS AT BAALBEK

LocationLocation

BASIC FACTSBASIC FACTS Dates from about 150 CE.Dates from about 150 CE. Is built from local limestone.Is built from local limestone. Is 65.2m by 33.5m, and 31m high - Is 65.2m by 33.5m, and 31m high -

much bigger than the Maison Carree. much bigger than the Maison Carree. The temples size serves to remind the The temples size serves to remind the

Semitic citizens of Syria of the Semitic citizens of Syria of the grandeur and power of Rome. grandeur and power of Rome.

Our temple stood next to the major Our temple stood next to the major temple of this site, the temple of temple of this site, the temple of

Jupiter Heliopolitanus. Jupiter Heliopolitanus.

THE TEMPLE HAS SOME THE TEMPLE HAS SOME SIMILARITIES WITH THE SIMILARITIES WITH THE

MAISON CARREE…MAISON CARREE… Has a high Has a high

podium (5m). podium (5m). Has a deep Has a deep

entrance porch. entrance porch. Has a frontal Has a frontal

aspect. aspect.

WHY WAS IT NAMED AFTER WHY WAS IT NAMED AFTER BACCHUS…?BACCHUS…?

Because of the fact that Because of the fact that sculptural sculptural reliefsreliefs representing the gods representing the gods birth and scenes from birth and scenes from his life decorate the his life decorate the entrances to the entrances to the cellacella and to the and to the inner shrineinner shrine. .

But some think it may But some think it may be a temple to Venus. be a temple to Venus.

THE PORCHTHE PORCH The front row of the porch has a row of The front row of the porch has a row of unfluted unfluted

Corinthian Corinthian columns.columns. Behind this is a second Behind this is a second

row of fluted row of fluted Corinthian columns.Corinthian columns.

A further column is set A further column is set in front of the in front of the projecting side walls.projecting side walls.

The ceiling is elaborately The ceiling is elaborately decorated with framed decorated with framed busts of Mars, Ceres, Vulcan, Ganymede etc. busts of Mars, Ceres, Vulcan, Ganymede etc.

EASTERN INFLUENCE EASTERN INFLUENCE ON THE TEMPLEON THE TEMPLE

The sheer size of the temple.The sheer size of the temple. Entrance way to the temple rises in three Entrance way to the temple rises in three

flights.flights. Two towers on either side of the doorway.Two towers on either side of the doorway. Exterior colonnade of unfluted columns is free Exterior colonnade of unfluted columns is free

standing like a Greek temple and not engaged.standing like a Greek temple and not engaged. The placement of cult image in The placement of cult image in adytonadyton.. The use of local stone.The use of local stone.

WHAT WAS ON THE INSIDEWHAT WAS ON THE INSIDE much of the minor decorative relief sculpture has much of the minor decorative relief sculpture has

remained intact.remained intact. an internal engaged-colonnade runs along the side walls.an internal engaged-colonnade runs along the side walls. the two side walls are divided into two levels:the two side walls are divided into two levels:

the upper row of pedimented niches.the upper row of pedimented niches. the bottom row of arched niches that held statues.the bottom row of arched niches that held statues.

a thick band of acanthus runs around the top of the cella.a thick band of acanthus runs around the top of the cella. the projecting engaged columns and the recesses give the the projecting engaged columns and the recesses give the

interior a feeling of movement.interior a feeling of movement. the deeply carved decoration produces the effect of light the deeply carved decoration produces the effect of light

and shade. and shade.

the shrine, or the shrine, or adytonadyton, was set on a higher level at the western , was set on a higher level at the western end of the cella.end of the cella.

it had an elaborate it had an elaborate canopycanopy made from made from marble that housed marble that housed the statue. the statue.

it was approached by it was approached by a set of a set of nine stepsnine steps that ran the full that ran the full breadth of the room. breadth of the room.

the shrine itself was the shrine itself was raised on its own raised on its own podium and was podium and was approached by approached by another set of stairs. another set of stairs.

INNER SHRINE INNER SHRINE

INTERESTING POINTS ABOUT INTERESTING POINTS ABOUT THE INSIDETHE INSIDE

The cella is twice as long as it is wide.The cella is twice as long as it is wide. The height is the same as the width.The height is the same as the width. The ceiling could have been vaulted or flat.The ceiling could have been vaulted or flat. The side walls of the cella project out to form an The side walls of the cella project out to form an

‘antae’‘antae’ in the front. in the front. The two towers on either side of the entrance.The two towers on either side of the entrance. The cult image wasn’t placed in the centre of the The cult image wasn’t placed in the centre of the

cella but in the cella but in the adytonadyton..

two towers either sidetwo towers either sideof the entranceof the entranceADYTONADYTON – where – where

cult statue was placedcult statue was placedcella cella

exterior colonnadeexterior colonnade

porch porch antae antae

A LOT OF DETAIL IS LOSTA LOT OF DETAIL IS LOST

The cult statue has not survived.The cult statue has not survived. Only one statue remains from Only one statue remains from

niches, that of a seated goddess.niches, that of a seated goddess.