City Mayor Fouad Blog said that “Baalbek is one of the most important cities in Lebanon and, indeed, the world because of its archaeological monuments and riches dating back to the Phoenician, Roman, Greek, Byzantine, Arabic and Islamic eras,” as cited by Arab News.
He called on state authorities “to give Baalbek more care and attention, and to meet our vision with a strategic plan to search for lost treasures, and highlight the cultural, human and civilizational value of the city.”
Baalbek was famous throughout the ages due to its location at the intersection of several major trading routes. The Romans built huge temples, the ruins of which are still perched on the edge of the city after an earthquake around 600 A.D. destroyed many landmarks. The Temple of Jupiter, one of the most imposing Roman sites, has only six of its original 54 columns remaining.
Ruins of Baalbek. source
“The Lebanese should not be surprised by the antiquities that can be found in Baalbek. The extent of the ancient city is not known yet. No one knows where the graveyards of that era are located,” said Dr. Jaafar Fadlallah, professor of archaeology.
He also added that the location of “the colored mosaic indicates that the place was a huge hall within a Roman palace. Roman Baalbek was inhabited by many emperors, and it is rich with the distinctive architecture that surrounded the ancient temples.”
Fadlallah said that during the second half of the 20th century, the Department of Antiquities failed to stop people from building on land that could be rich in antiquities. During the civil war in the 1970s, people built on archaeological sites in violation of the law. Any excavation work “could reveal buried monuments,” Fadlallah explained.
The remains of the Propylaeum, the eastern entrance to the site. source
For better protection, A technical team from the Directorate General of Antiquities in Baalbek protected the colored mosaic with sand and special geotextile covering.
Among the many impressive ruins, there are also are the Temples of Venus and Bacchus. The latter stands out from the rest because it is so well preserved and adorned with beautiful carvings dating back to the Roman Empire. Baalbek was influenced by Mesopotamian, Roman, Christian, and Islamic worship and each group introduced their own heritage to this sacred monument. Today, they are included in the legacy of Baalbek.
