The largest complex of Roman temples built in the 3000 km from Rome

Baalbeck in Lebanon No one will argue with the fact that the ancient city of Baalbek in Heliopolis ("Sun City") - perhaps the most valuable archaeological site in the world. It is situated on a hill in a fertile river valley near the Lebanese town of the same name. The capital Beirut is located 85 kilometers to the southwest. Harmony, and without that magical landscape successfully complement the parallel chain of Lebanese mountains. The ruins of the temple at Baalbek in 1984 UNESCO named it one of the most impressive examples of architecture of the heyday of the Roman Empire, and made of Baalbek in its World Heritage List. Not surprising, because in Baalbek is the largest complex of Roman temples. Height of columns created in the ancient times, is amazing, and some blocks of stone, of which temples are built to weigh several thousand tons each. Thus, they are the largest objects ever used for construction. Round Temple of Venus Ballbek was founded in the XV century BC century, Julius Caesar, when he began to build the temple of Jupiter. The temple is built of huge stones, weighing up to 800 tons. If you believe the story, its construction ended only to the I century BC About 3000 years before there was the temple of local god Baal. In the years 333-64. BC the Greeks built a temple in the western part of the podium to give it a classic form. Finally, the Romans built on the site the Temple of Jupiter. These giant columns as the tallest in the world during the following centuries the Romans erected here smaller temple of Venus and Little Temple. The latter was badly damaged in 2006, but despite this, still considered the most well-preserved Roman temple in the world. Best time to visit this incredible archaeological complex - from March to May or from September to November, since that time the least of all tourists. See also other materials about the ancient ruins: A reminder of bygone power of Persia Jam - ancient impregnable fortress in North Africa as we conquered Europe with Sea Pompei - The Legend, covered with ashes Delphi - the religious center of ancient Greece's Rock-of-Kashel - an ancient symbol of the Irish State Flooding can be useful ... the eruption the Temple of Skulls - a symbol of the kingdom of the dead, ancient building, the name given to the whole country A lonely wanderer in Baalbek, Appetizers, and locks Bible stories to the abandoned ruins of the Kingdom of Ani At the places of cult sacrifices of the ancient tribes of Stone miracle of southern Africa country, where two calendar, and two ways of calculating time Great restaurants and inspiring ruins of strange dreams about ancient cities ruins of Hampi, injustice and thick beggars