Baalbek-Heliopolis, the Bekaa, and Berytus from 100 BCE to 400 CE

A fundamental shift in understanding the religious and colonial history of Baalbek-Heliopolis emerges from this study, challenging long-held assumptions about its origins. Contrary to the traditional view that associates the site with ancient Semitic or Phoenician worship dating back to the Bronze Age, research indicates that religious activity at Baalbek-Heliopolis is primarily a product of Roman colonial transformation following the establishment of Colonia Iulia Augusta Felix Berytus in 15 BCE. The study examines changes across multiple sites—Baalbek-Heliopolis, Berytus, Deir el-Qalaa, Niha, and Hosn Niha—using archaeological evidence to recontextualize their development within the broader landscape of the Bekaa valley. This approach reveals how colonial dynamics reshaped religious practices and urban landscapes in this region during the 1st to 4th centuries CE.

Paturel, S. (2019). Baalbek-Heliopolis, the Bekaa, and Berytus from 100 BCE to 400 CE. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004400733