The Sanctuary of Bel rising behind the Palmyra Oasis, Syria |
The vast Sanctuary of Bel is the largest of the Palmyran ruins |
Northwest corner of the Sanctuary of Bel |
The western wall of the Sanctuary of Bel, fortified in 1132 by the Arabs |
Sanctuary of Bel, Palmyra |
The former propylaeum of the Sanctuary of Bel, converted into a fortified gateway in 1132 |
Sanctuary of Bel, or Baal to the Babylonians, was the supreme god of the Palmyrenes |
Bel = Baal = Zeus = Jupiter |
Fallen columns reused during the 12th Century fortification of the ancient temple by the Arabs |
Sanctuary of Bel, Palmyra |
The Cella of the Temple of Bel, Palmyra |
Cella of the Sancutary of Bel, Palmyra |
Sculpture of a man, Temple of Bel |
The Sanctuary of Bal measures 200m x 200m |
The Cella, the holiest part of the temple |
Cella, Sanctuary of Bel, Palmyra |
Detail of the Cella of the Sanctuary of Bel, Palmyra |
The moon god Aglibol and the sun god Yarhibol were worshipped here as well |
Sanctuary of Bel, Palmyra |
Sanctuary of Bel, Palmyra |
During the Byzantine-era, the temple was converted into a church |
In the 12th Century the church was then converted into a mosque |
The temple remained in service as a mosque until 1929 |
Sanctuary of Bel, Palmyra |
Sanctuary of Bel, Palmyra |
Weather-worn carved stone from the temple |
Sanctuary of Bel, Palmyra |
Sanctuary of Bel, Palmyra |
Remains of a column |
A piece of carved rubble |
The inner side of the fortified gateway, Temple of Bel |
Remains of a Palmyran sculpture |
Fallen columns littering the courtyard of the Sanctuary of Bel |
Main (western) entrance to the Cella |
Sooty residue of centuries of cooking fires on the carved ceiling of the southern shrine |
Interior of the Cella, once roofed with Lebanese cedar |
Pale remains of frescoes from the Byzantine church |
Ceiling of the north shrine, Sanctuary of Bel |
Jupiter surrounded by the signs of the zodiac |
North shrine, Cella of the Sanctuary of Bel |
Cella of the Sanctuary of Bel, looking south, Palmyra |
Relief carvings, Sanctuary of Bel, Palmyra |
Stone carving, Sanctuary of Bel |
A bedouin tent set up for the Palmyra Festival |
Fortified gateway to the Sanctuary of Bel |
Palmyra Oasis |