| Temple of Jupiter | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Interactive map ofTemple of Jupiter | |
| General information | |
| Type | Roman temple |
| Architectural style | Classical |
| Location | Baalbek,Lebanon Heliopolis,Roman Phoenicia |
| Completed | late 1st |
| Height | 31 m (102 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Size | 66 by 35 m (217 by 115 ft) |
TheTemple of Jupiter is a colossalRoman temple inBaalbek, Lebanon. It is the largest of the Roman world after theTemple of Venus and Roma inRome. It is unknown who commissioned or designed the temple, nor exactly when it was constructed. It is most likely construction began in the first century BC. It is situated at the western end of the Great Court of Roman Heliopolis, on a broad platform of stone raised another 7 m (23 ft) above the huge stones of the foundation, three of which are among the heaviest blocks ever used in a construction. Cultic activity had long taken place at the site; the temple presumably replaced an earlier one, possibly using the same foundation.[a]
It was the biggest temple dedicated toJupiter Optimus Maximus Heliopolitanus in all theRoman Empire. The columns were 19.9 meters high with a diameter of nearly 2.5 meters: the biggest in the classical world. It took three centuries to create this colossal temple complex.
The huge quarry nearby likely played into the Roman decision to create a huge "Great Court" of a big pagan temple complex in this mountain site, despite being located at 1,145 meters of altitude and lying on the remoteeastern border of the Roman Empire.[3]
Although the 6th-century Greek historianJohn Malalas dates the temple to the reign ofAntoninus Pius (AD 138–161), construction probably started soon after around 16 BC, when Baalbek became a Roman colony known as Colonia Julia Augusta Felix Heliopolitana.[4] It was largely completed by AD 60 as evidenced by agraffito located on one of the topmost column drums.[5][6][7] It was an important religious site during theRoman Empire, and emperors often consulted the temple'soracle.Trajan learned of his imminent deathc. AD 115.[5]
The temple complex is on a raised plaza erected 7 m (23 ft) over an earlier T-shaped base consisting of a podium, staircase, and foundation walls.[b] These walls were built from about 24monoliths, at their lowest level weighing approximately 300 tonnes each. The tallest retaining wall, on the west, has a second course of monoliths containing the famed "Three Stones" (Ancient Greek:Τρίλιθον,Trílithon):[8] cut fromlimestone, measuring over 19 m (62 ft) long, 4.3 m (14 ft) high, and 3.6 m (12 ft) broad, they weigh approximately 800 tonnes each.[9] (A fourth, still larger stone called theStone of the Pregnant Woman lies unused in the nearby quarry 800 m (2,600 ft) from the town[10] and weighs around 1,000 tonnes.[11] A fifth, weighing approximately 1,200 tonnes[12] lies in the same quarry.) Through the foundation there run three enormous passages the size of railway tunnels.[8]
A wide staircase provided access to the elevated platform, which measured 47.7 m × 87.75 m (156.5 ft × 287.9 ft) on top.[13] The Temple of Jupiter proper was circled by aperistyle of 54 unflutedCorinthian columns:[14] ten in front and back and nineteen along each side.[13] The columns were 19.9 meters high, the tallest of any classical temple, and the apex of thepediment is estimated to have been 44 meters above the floor of the court. With a rectangular footprint of 88 by 44 meters, it is considerably smaller than earlierGreek temples, such as theTemple of Artemis atEphesus and the Temple of Apollo atDidyma. Rather its significance lies in the sophistication of its planning and architectural detail.[5]
A number ofJulio-Claudian emperors enriched the temple's sanctuary in turn. In the mid-1st century,Nero built the tower-altar opposite the temple. In the early 2nd century,Trajan added the temple's forecourt, withporticos ofpink granite shipped fromAswan at the southern end ofEgypt.[citation needed]
The Temple-Sanctuary of Heliopolitan Zeus was ruined by earthquakes,[15] destroyed and pillaged for stone underTheodosius[16] and again underJustinian: eight columns were taken toConstantinople (Istanbul) for incorporation into theHagia Sophia. Three columns fell during the late 18th century.[17]
The original method of construction remains an archeological mystery.[18]
This quarry was slightly higher than the temple complex, so no lifting was required to move the stones.[19][20]
IndividualRoman cranes were not capable of lifting stones in the 60 to 100 tonne range, but a special one could have been built only for the construction of this temple.
The large stones may have probably been rolled into position along temporary earthen banks from the quarry or multiple cranes may have been used in combination, or they might have alternated sides a little at a time, filling in supports underneath each time.[21][22]
Continued archaeological investigations have been hindered by civil unrest in the region.[18]
Macrobius, writing c. 400, says that the temple held a golden statue of Apollo or Zeus. Represented as a beardless youth and in the garb of a charioteer, his right hand held a whip, the left a lightning bolt and ears of wheat.[23][24]
At present, six columns remain standing along its south side with theirentablature.[13]
Their capitals remain nearly perfect on the south side, while theBeqaa's winter winds have worn the northern faces almost bare.[21]
The remainingarchitrave andfrieze blocks weigh as much as 60 tonnes (66 tons), with one corner block weighing over 100 tonnes (110 tons), all of them raised to a height of 19 m (62.3 ft) above the ground.[25]
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%2c_Lebanon%25E2%2580%2593Detail_of_cornice_and_column%2c_south_side%25E2%2580%2593PHBZ024_2016_3024%25E2%2580%2593Dumbarton_Oaks.jpg)
![Interior, looking east[26]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aMMoCA195MA.jpg)
Nobody seems to know on whose orders it was cut, or why, or how it came to be abandoned.
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Baalbek".Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
34°00′24″N36°12′12″E / 34.006799°N 36.203414°E /34.006799; 36.203414
