Temple of Bel

Temple of Bel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
Not to be confused with Temple of Baalshamin.
The Temple of Bel (Arabic: ‫)معبد بل‬, also known as the Temple of Baal, was an ancient
temple located in Palmyra, Syria. The temple, consecrated to the Mesopotamian god Bel,
worshipped at Palmyra in triad with the lunar god Aglibol and the sun god Yarhibol, formed
the center of religious life in Palmyra and was dedicated in 32 AD.[1][2] Its ruins were
considered among the best preserved at Palmyra,[3] until they were further destroyed by the
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in August 2015.[4] The arched main entrance into the temple is
still intact.
Contents
 1 History
 2 Architecture
 3 Destruction
 4 References
 5 Bibliography
 6 External links
History
The temple was built on a tell with stratification indicating human occupation that goes back
to the third millennium BC. The area was occupied in pre-Roman periods with a former
temple that is usually referred to as "the first temple of Bel" and "the Hellenistic temple". The
walls of the temenos and propylaea were constructed in the late first and the first half of the
second century AD. The names of three Greeks who worked on the construction of the
temple of Bel are known through inscriptions, including a probably Greek architect named
Alexandras (Greek: Αλεξάνδρας).[5][6] However, many Palmyrenes adopted Greco-Roman
names and native citizens with the name Alexander are attested in the city.[7]
The Temple of Bel was converted into a Christian church during the Byzantine Era.[8] Parts of
the structure were modified by Arabs in 1132 which preserved the structure and converted the
Temple into a mosque. It remained in use as a mosque until the 1920s.[9] Most of the
Corinthian columns of the inner colonnades still showed pedestals where the statues of the
benefactors stood.[2] The temple was aligned along the eastern end of the Great Colonnade at
Palmyra.
Architecture
The temple showed a remarkable synthesis of ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman
architecture.[1] The temple remains lay inside a large precinct lined by porticos. It had a
rectangular shape and was oriented north-south.[1] It was based on a paved court surrounded
by a massive 205-metre (673 ft) long wall with a propylaeum. On a podium in the middle of
the court was the actual temple building. The cella was entirely surrounded by a prostyle of
Corinthian columns, only interrupted on the long side by an entrance gate with large steps
leading from the court. The cella was unique in the fact that it had two inner sanctuaries, the
north and south adytons, dedicated as the shrines of Bel and other local deities. The northern
chamber was known for a bas-relief carving of the seven planets known to the ancients
surrounded by the twelve signs of the Zodiac and the carvings of a procession of camels and
veiled women.[10] The cella was lit by two pairs of windows cut high in the two long walls.[1][2]
In three corners of the building stairwells could be found that led up to rooftop terraces.[1]
In the court there were the remains of a basin, an altar, a dining hall, and a building with
niches. And in the northwest corner lay a ramp along which sacrificial animals were led into
the temple area.[2] There were three monumental gateways, of which the entry was through
the west gate. These were modified by the Arabs in 1132 when they erected a bastion, and the
temple was converted into a mosque,[10] which preserved it from further dilapidation.
Destruction[edit]
Further information: Destruction of cultural heritage by ISIL
Syria's Director of Antiquities Maamoun Abdul Karim stated that ISIL were looking for
treasures and "stores of gold" in the city.[11] On 30 August 2015, the Associated Press reported
that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant had partially demolished the temple by
explosives, citing eyewitness accounts.[12][13] The bricks and columns were reported as lying on
the ground and only one wall was reported as remaining, according to a Palmyra resident.[14][15]
The damage was also attested by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.[16] Syria's
antiquities chief Maamoun Abdulkarim later stated that although there was an explosion
within the temple's perimeter, "the basic structure is still standing".[17] However, these reports
were proved to be incorrect.
On August 31, 2015 the United Nations confirmed the temple's destruction after reviewing
satellite imagery, "We can confirm destruction of the main building of the Temple of Bel as
well as a row of columns in its immediate vicinity" reported by the United Nations Institute
for Training and Research (UNITAR).[18][4] The BBC issued a video report showing the
satellite images and the destruction described by Einar Bjorgo, manager of UN Satellite
Imaging (UNOSAT UNITAR).[19]
The main entrance arch survived the destruction of the temple. The Institute for Digital
Archaeology proposed that replicas of this arch be installed in Trafalgar Square, London and
Times Square, New York City.[20] It was later decided that instead of the temple's main
entrance, the replica would be of part of the Monumental Arch.[21]
Following the recapture of Palmyra by the Syrian Army in March 2016, director of
antiquities Maamoun Abdelkarim stated that the Temple of Bel, along with the Temple of
Baalshamin and the Monumental Arch, will be rebuilt using the surviving remains
(anastylosis).[22]

Temple of Bel

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Temple of Bel

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Temple of Bel

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Temple of Bel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You might also like