Baalbeck Things to Do

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A grand (restored) stairway leads up to the Propylaea, the impressive entrance to the Baalbek Acropolis and its Temple of Jupiter. The Propylaea is set between two towers and had a colonnaded portico within it, which was once covered with a wooden ceiling, probably made from cedar wood, and paved with mosaics. Only a few upright columns from the Propylaea have survived. Unfortunately, the modern ticket booth was built immediately outside the Propylaea and partially obstructs the view. Beyond the Propylaea is the Hexagonal Court.

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A large paved Oval Forecourt preceded the Propylaea and the entrance to the Acropolis of Baalbek. This forecourt functioned as a gathering place before entering the temple's enclosure when important religious processions honouring the deity took place. For anyone who has visited Jerash in Jordan, an oval forecourt preceding a temple dedicated to Jupiter (i.e., Zeus) would sound quite familiar, but this should not be a surprise given the proximity of the two cities and the likelihood of shared religious practices. Unlike in Jerash, however, where the Oval Plaza is perfectly preserved, in Baalbek about a third of the Oval Forecourt lies under the modern road and buildings. What is exposed is visible in an inaccessible archaeological area, located to the right of the ticket booth. This area also contains additional ruins, and beyond it lies the Omayyad Mosque which occupies the site of the Roman Forum.

Adjacent to the Temple of Jupiter is the Temple of Bacchus. Although it is known as the Small Temple, it is actually bigger that the Parthenon in Greece. There are marvellous carvings that still remains in pretty good condition. In fact the Temple of Bacchus is acclaimed to be the most beautifully decorated temple of the Roman Empire.

As you alight from your car to enter Baalbeck's Roman ruins, you'll be surrounded by street vendors offering you souvenirs, guide books, Lebanese costumes, antique coins etc. Indulge them if you will or else head straight to the entrance. The ticket costs US$10. Keep it with you as you'll need to present the ticket at the exit.

There is likely to be tour guides around offering you services for an informative tour of ruins for US$20. It might be a good idea to engage one rather than just staring at stones!

One of the astonishing facts about the Temple of Jupiter is that it sits on top of the largest building stones ever used in our history. Not seen from within the temple, but supposedly visible from outside beneath the walls, are three massive blocks named by archaeologists "Trilithon". Each one is about 20 x 4 x 3 metres and measures up to 1000 tonnes! Above the Trilithon is a layer of building blocks said to be the second largest stones ever used by man, after the Trilithon, each about 10 metres in length. These 'smaller' stones are visible from within the Acropolis, underneath the Temple of Jupiter, and are known to have come from a nearby quarry where one block has remained (see attached photo and compare the size of the people).

It is known that the Greeks had begun to build a temple dedicated to Zeus on the site of the Temple of Jupiter before the arrival of the Romans, but archaeologists believe that the foundation was probably laid out well before the arrival of the Greeks. When exactly and by which civilisation is rather unclear. There had been numerous legends surrounding these large stones, some even involving 'giants'!

Despite being a majority Shiite town, Baalbek does have a Christian presence. There are a couple of noticeable churches (and a convent?), at least one of which is dedicated to Saint Barbara, the patron saint of Baalbek. Attached is a photo of one church I encountered in Baalbek. It is located close to the Acropolis, but I failed to note its name when I took the photo (Saint Barbara?). If you have the answer, then please drop me a line. Thank you!

Beyond the impressive archaeological ruins and few historic buildings, Baalbek seems to have little to offer the visitor (One exception is the Baalbek International Festival, which takes place in the summer). A number of beautiful late Ottoman buildings, such as those in the attached photo, seem to have survived, but otherwise, the city's architecture is rather bland. There are a few hotels for those who wish to stay overnight, and some local eateries that serve shawarma and other local dishes, but nothing to write home about (at least in my experience). Nevertheless, a stroll through parts of town is interesting to see a different part of Lebanon.

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The remains of yet another colonnaded road can be found in the archaeological area just outside the Acropolis. This one is a corner and represents the intersection of two roads; the straight road that cuts through modern Baalbek and the continuation of the colonnade found south of the Acropolis (described earlier on this page). The corner colonnade has survived rather well (see attached photo), but the rest of it less so.