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The massive temple of the Roman god Jupiter (assimilated with the Syrian god Baal) at Baalbek, central Lebanon, is one of the largest Roman temples anywhere. It continued to be a center of pagan worship until the middle of the fifth century CE, despite the efforts of Christians to close it.

Roman Theater at Bostra (Busra) in Syria

Name: (Roman) Temple of Jupiter at Baalbek, Lebanon

Material: Stone

Size: Originally constructed on a base measuring 88 by 48 m (289 x 157 ft) surrounded by 54 columns with a diameter of 2.2 m (7.2 ft). The 6 remaining columns measure nearly 20 m (66 ft) in height.

Date: 1st century CE

Place of Origin: Baalbek, Lebanon

Location: Baalbek, Lebanon

Source and Registration#: Wikimedia Commons. Link to resource
Creative Commons Copyright.
License: Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5. (accessed March 4, 2010).

Walter E. Kaegi

Professor of History, University of Chicago