Temple of Bacchus at Baalbek

Workbook p.80 -Workbook p.80 -E Paul Artus p. 91E Paul Artus p. 91

A Paul Artus p.A Paul Artus p.

c. AD 150

BaalbeckBaalbeck

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Location & background to the area: The temple is next to a The temple is next to a sacred sanctuary for Jupiter Heliopolitanus (Helipolis ‘sun city’ sacred sanctuary for Jupiter Heliopolitanus (Helipolis ‘sun city’ was the Greek name for Baalbek). It is located in was the Greek name for Baalbek). It is located in the town called Baalbek (modern day Lebanon).Meaning of name: Temple dedicated to the god, _________(give greek and roman name). This can be seen through the decorations surrounding the entrance which shows scenes of the god’s birth and life. It was for the cult of Bacchus.Architectural type: Religious ArchitecturePurpose: Temple for Bacchus. The size of the temple and the nearby complex, is designed to give the Semetic (Lebanese & Middle Eastern) citizens of this Roman province of Syria, the feeling of the grandeur of Rome and o the emperor and pride in their own province.Dates of construction: Began in 150AD and finished in 250ADDimensions: The temple is of a great size, an eastern feature, 66m long, 35m wide and 31m high. The temple stands on a high podium 5m tall – larger than that of the Maison Caree. The cella door is 6.3m wide and 12.6 m tall, with its interior width equal to its interior height.

Plan of the temple Plan of the temple of Bacchusof Bacchus

P.80 in your workbooksP.80 in your workbooksWrite in the code below the diagramWrite in the code below the diagrama= a= peripteral colonnadeperipteral colonnadeb= b= prostyle porchprostyle porchc= c= doors to celladoors to cellad= d= cellacellae= e= cult statuecult statue

de

c

ba

What type of columns?

How many columns along the Front? What is a word we useFor that number?

Side walls of the cella project out to form Side walls of the cella project out to form ‘‘antaeantae’ in the ’ in the front and there is a deep ‘front and there is a deep ‘prostyleprostyle’ porch where the ’ porch where the porch columns are in front of the projecting ends of the porch columns are in front of the projecting ends of the cella.cella.Unfluted Corinthian columns are used for the colonnade and Unfluted Corinthian columns are used for the colonnade and the front row of the porch, while the the front row of the porch, while the interior columns of the interior columns of the porch are fluted and smaller than the exterior columnsporch are fluted and smaller than the exterior columns..

It has a colonnade on all 4 sides (peripteral). It has a colonnade on all 4 sides (peripteral). This is made up of 8 free-standing, columns This is made up of 8 free-standing, columns (octastyle) at the front & back 15 on each long (octastyle) at the front & back 15 on each long side.side.The statue was not in the cella like most temples, but The statue was not in the cella like most temples, but within another structure called anwithin another structure called an adytonadyton (an eastern (an eastern feature), a very elaborate canopy in marble.feature), a very elaborate canopy in marble.

Has a vaulted ceiling & 2 towers with steps (an Eastern Has a vaulted ceiling & 2 towers with steps (an Eastern feature) on either side of the doorwayfeature) on either side of the doorway

The western end opposite the doorway had a stairway of The western end opposite the doorway had a stairway of 9 nine steps, the full width of the cella.9 nine steps, the full width of the cella.

The Inner raised podium had a central set of steps The Inner raised podium had a central set of steps flanked by piers with 2 engaged corinthian columns. This flanked by piers with 2 engaged corinthian columns. This central set of 6 steps lead to another podium where the central set of 6 steps lead to another podium where the statue of the god was in its shrine. statue of the god was in its shrine.

On the exterior, Surrounding entrance to the cella is 2 On the exterior, Surrounding entrance to the cella is 2 bands of elaborate patterning – a vine motif (grape or ivy) bands of elaborate patterning – a vine motif (grape or ivy) represents Dionysus.represents Dionysus.

- Acanthus leaves that sprout ears of wheat representing - Acanthus leaves that sprout ears of wheat representing fertility and rebirthfertility and rebirth

Structural featuresStructural features

Decorative featuresDecorative features

The portico ceiling is elaborately carved with busts of Mars, The portico ceiling is elaborately carved with busts of Mars, Ceres, Vulcan, Ganymede and the doorway is surrounded by Ceres, Vulcan, Ganymede and the doorway is surrounded by

elaborate carving.elaborate carving.

Engaged Corinthian columns and their pilasters divide the two Engaged Corinthian columns and their pilasters divide the two interior side walls vertically, and these walls are also divided interior side walls vertically, and these walls are also divided

horizontally with a bottom row of arched niches carried on pilasters horizontally with a bottom row of arched niches carried on pilasters and an upper row of pedimented niches, which once held statues.and an upper row of pedimented niches, which once held statues.

Decorativefeatures

Interior:The projecting

engaged columns and the

spaces between, on the interior, give a

feeling of movement. The elaborate and deeply carved

decoration produces the effects of light

and shade, reminiscent of

Antonine Baroque

sculpture.

The temple of Bacchus had a coffered ceiling

Comparing two temples, Maison Caree and Temple of Bacchus

Similarities between Bacchus & Similarities between Bacchus & Maison CarreeMaison Carree

Differences between Bacchus & Differences between Bacchus & Maison CareeMaison Caree

Both have a rectangular Both have a rectangular shapeshape

Both focus on frontal entranceBoth focus on frontal entrance

Both have a podiumBoth have a podium

Both are in a sanctuary Both are in a sanctuary (Maison Caree had a 3-sided (Maison Caree had a 3-sided p_____, Bacchus next to temple p_____, Bacchus next to temple of J_____)of J_____)

Both have Corinthian capitalsBoth have Corinthian capitals

Both have e______ columnsBoth have e______ columns

Both use local limestone as Both use local limestone as building materialbuilding material

Height of podium is bigger on Height of podium is bigger on Bacchus (5m)Bacchus (5m)

3 flights of steps, not one, on 3 flights of steps, not one, on BacchusBacchus

Free-standing exterior Free-standing exterior columns, not engaged, 2 interior columns, not engaged, 2 interior towers, interior raised podium, & towers, interior raised podium, & adyton, baroque style & interior adyton, baroque style & interior decoration on Bacchusdecoration on Bacchus

Maison Caree is half the size Maison Caree is half the size of Bacchusof Bacchus

Influences present in the Influences present in the temple of temple of bbacchusacchusGreekGreek SemeticSemetic RomanRoman

Decoration from Decoration from life of B_____life of B_____

Freestanding Freestanding Peripteral Peripteral colonnadecolonnade

C______ capitalsC______ capitals

Fluted columnsFluted columns

Busts of Busts of Ganymede Ganymede /mars/ceres on /mars/ceres on ceiling of porticoceiling of portico

On a l_____ On a l_____ scalescale

inner shrine inner shrine inside cella inside cella (a______) for (a______) for statuestatue

Use of local Use of local stonestone

The two towersThe two towers

A high podiumA high podium

A deep entrance A deep entrance p_____ – p_____ – (prostyle)(prostyle)

Focus on the Focus on the front entrancefront entrance