1. THE TEMPLE OF BACCHUS AT BAALBEK

2. Location

3. BASIC FACTS Dates from about 150 CE. Is built from local limestone.
Is 65.2m by 33.5m, and 31m high - much bigger than the Maison Carree.
The temples size serves to remind the Semitic citizens of Syria of the grandeur and power of Rome.

4. Our temple stood next to the major temple of this site, the temple of Jupiter Heliopolitanus.
Local name for Jupiter as a deity (Jupiter of Heliopolis)

6. THE TEMPLE HAS SOME SIMILARITIES WITH THE MAISON CARREE…
Has a high podium (5m).
Has a deep entrance porch.
Has a frontal aspect.

7. WHY WAS IT NAMED AFTER BACCHUS…?
Because of the fact that sculptural reliefs representing the gods birth and scenes from his life decorate the entrances to the cella and to the inner shrine.
But some think it may be a temple to Venus.

8. THE PORCH
The front row of the porch has a row of unfluted Corinthian columns.
Behind this is a second row of fluted Corinthian columns.
A further column is set in front of the projecting side walls.
The ceiling is elaborately decorated with framed busts of Mars, Ceres, Vulcan, Ganymede etc.

9. EASTERN INFLUENCE ON THE TEMPLE
The sheer size of the temple.
Entrance way to the temple rises in three flights.
Two towers on either side of the doorway.
Exterior colonnade of unfluted columns is free standing like a Greek temple and not engaged.
The placement of cult image in adyton.
The use of local stone.
Adyton: the innermost sanctuary in an ancient temple open only to priests (a sanctum).

10. WHAT WAS ON THE INSIDE
much of the minor decorative relief sculpture has remained intact.
an internal engaged-colonnade runs along the side walls.
the two side walls are divided into two levels:
the upper row of pedimented niches.
the bottom row of arched niches that held statues.
a thick band of acanthus runs around the top of the cella.
the projecting engaged columns and the recesses give the interior a feeling of movement.
the deeply carved decoration produces the effect of light and shade.

11. INNER SHRINE
the shrine, or adyton, was set on a higher level at the western end of the cella.
it had an elaborate canopy made from marble that housed the statue.
it was approached by a set of nine steps that ran the full breadth of the room.
the shrine itself was raised on its own podium and was approached by another set of stairs.

12. INTERESTING POINTS ABOUT THE INSIDE
The cella is twice as long as it is wide.
The height is the same as the width.
The ceiling could have been vaulted or flat.
The side walls of the cella project out to form an ‘antae’ in the front.
The two towers on either side of the entrance.
The cult image wasn’t placed in the centre of the cella but in the adyton.

13. exterior colonnade
two towers either side
of the entrance
ADYTON – where
cult statue was placed
porch
antae
cella

14. A LOT OF DETAIL IS LOST The cult statue has not survived.
Only one statue remains from niches, that of a seated goddess.