Transcript THE TEMPLE OF BACCHUS AT BAALBEK BASIC FACTS     dates from about 150 AD. is built from local limestone. is 65.2m by 33.5m, and 31m.

THE TEMPLE OF BACCHUS
AT BAALBEK
BASIC FACTS
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dates from about 150 AD.
is built from local limestone.
is 65.2m by 33.5m, and 31m high - much bigger
than the Maison Carree (only 12.3m high).
the temples size serves to remind the Semitic
citizens of Syria of the grandeur and power of
Rome.
Our temple stood next to the major
temple of this site, the temple of
Jupiter Heliopolitanus.
THE TEMPLE HAS SOME
SIMILARITIES WITH THE
MAISON CARREE…
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has a high
podium (5m).
has a deep
entrance porch.
has a frontal
aspect.
WHY WAS IT NAMED AFTER
BACCHUS…?
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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.
THE PORCH
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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.
EASTERN INFLUENCE
ON THE TEMPLE
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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.
WHAT WAS ON THE INSIDE
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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:
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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.
INNER SHRINE
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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.
INTERESTING POINTS ABOUT
THE INSIDE
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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.
exterior colonnade:
peripteral (Greek)
ADYTON: - shrine within the
cella where the cultic statue
was kept (Eastern)
Cella multilevel
(Eastern)
Built on a high (5m)
podium (Roman)
two towers either side
of the entrance (Eastern)
antae
Deep porch
(Roman)
A LOT OF DETAIL IS LOST
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the cult statue has not survived.
only one statue remains from
niches, that of a seated goddess.