Baalbek, Lebanon 🇱🇧 ✨ // currently being bombed by Israel - it is 4,000 years older than *ancient* Israel
This is the first post of a series on Lebanese history. As Lebanon goes through this difficult time, we’ll post about its rich history and great people - because its important to showcase that Lebanon isn’t just a place on a map.
Baalbek has been continuously inhabited for over 9000 years. The name Baalbek is thought to mean “Baʿal of the Beka”, with Ba’al being a pre-Ibrahimic name for Lord or God.
It’s home to the Temple of Jupiter, the largest Roman temple in the world, as well as Temple of Bacchus , which were both built on top of an earlier pre-Roman temple.
The Temple of Bacchus (also known as Dionysus), pictured in the first image was used in the worship by Cult of Dionysus. It would host “Bacchanalia” which were mystical festivals that involved frenzied dancing, intoxication, music, and, sex - often described as orgies