Athena Review Image Archive ™
Baalbek: Temple of Bacchus, Entrance portal to cella (1890s photo)
Baalbek: Temple of Bacchus, entranceway (photo: Libary of Congress)
This 1890s photo shows the monumental entranceway to the cella of the Temple of Bacchus, which passes through a richly carved portal 14 meters high. The lintel and sides of the portal contain intricate reliefs of plants and geometric motics.
The portal leads into one of the most highly decorated shrines or cellas in the Roman world. The engaged Corinthian columns in the interior divide the wall into compartments, with two tiers of decorated niches which contained statues.
This 2nd century AD structure is one of the best preserved ancient temples of its size. The print is in the archives of the Library of Congress.
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