Its monumental existence dates back to the time of the Phoenicians, who built a sanctuary dedicated to the god Baal in the third century BC. Later, the Romans took control of the area and adapted it to their own deities.

These temples were completed in the 3rd century AD and are some of the best examples of Roman architecture in existence. Despite their past importance and splendor, beginning in the 4th century and with the arrival of Christianity, the sanctuary began a slow decline.

Some of the temples were transformed while in others parts were removed to be used in the construction of other buildings. It is said that up to eight columns from the temple of Jupiter were used in the construction of the basilica of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople in the 6th century.

During the Arab conquest of the following century, the sanctuary became a fortified citadel, of which an Umayyad mosque remains. In the following centuries, various empires and civilizations such as the Byzantines, the Mirdassids and the Mamluks passed through the site. It was sacked twice by the Mongol Empire in the 12th and 15th centuries until it became part of the Ottoman Empire.

In the 18th century, the site was rediscovered to the West by several European explorers, who made several visits until the first half of the 19th century. The first rigorously scientific expedition was carried out during the second half of the 19th century by the Palestine Exploration Fund, followed by the establishment of a German archaeological mission promoted by Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany. Already at that time the first restorations and study of the archaeological remains were carried out.

During the French mandate of the area after the First World War, archaeological missions continued until the independence of Lebanon, where the restoration and conservation operations came under the jurisdiction of the Lebanese Antiquities Service. Finally, the result of all the archaeological and dissemination work would lead to the inscription of Baalbek as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984.

The temple complex of Baalbek was built mainly in granite and marble, and its structure is built on a huge square raised 5 meters, whose entrance is through the propylaea. The site includes three main temples: Jupiter, Bacchus and Venus.

One of the highlights of the Baalbek temple complex is the Great Court, which is located in the center of the complex. This terrace is 135 meters long and 113 meters wide and had side porticoes.

The Temple of Jupiter, considered the largest built by the Roman Empire, stands out for its size and engineering. Although today only six of the original 54 columns remain, they still manage to convey the magnificence of this ancient place of worship. It contained the great statue of Jupiter Heliopolitanus, which dominated the huge courtyard elevated on a staircase.

The well-preserved Temple of Bacchus is another landmark. This temple is enriched with some of the finest reliefs and sculptures that have survived from antiquity, it is one of the best preserved Roman temples in the world.

The Temple of Venus, although smaller and situated between the two other temples, is remarkable for its unique semicircular shape and exquisite artistic details. This temple was transformed into an orthodox church.

In addition to these monuments, the Baalbek temple complex has a number of smaller structures, interspersed with the remains of later buildings. With the passing of time, the space was used as a fortress and its constructions were used as temples of other religions according to the succession of the different empires that dominated the region and left their mark.

Currently, Baalbek is an emblem of the architectural grandeur of antiquity, becoming an important tourist destination where the International Festival of Baalbek is also celebrated. This festival brings together every year classical music, dance, theater, opera and jazz, as well as modern world music, every July and August in the ancient Roman Acropolis.

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