Temple of Bel and Sacred Precinct
Visit the site of the Temple of Bel at Palmyra, once considered the most complete ancient temple in the Middle East, the 1st century CE sanctuary that combined Roman architecture with Semitic religious traditions before its partial destruction by ISIS in 2015.
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Temple Enclosure
Enter the temple enclosure of the Temple of Bel where the massive outer walls of the sacred precinct contained one of the greatest religious complexes of the ancient Near East, the scale of the enclosure reflecting the importance of the Storm God Bel in Palmyrene religion.
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Temple Podium
See the podium of the Temple of Bel where the main sanctuary building stood, the combination of Roman architectural form with Semitic religious function creating a unique hybrid building that reflected the cosmopolitan character of ancient Palmyra.
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Surviving Elements
Examine the surviving architectural elements of the temple that escaped ISIS destruction in 2015, the columns, carved panels, and structural remains that survived the detonation providing the material basis for future reconstruction of this extraordinary monument.
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Sacrificial Altar
See the remains of the sacrificial altar within the temple precinct where the religious ceremonies of the Palmyrene cult of Bel were performed, the ritual functions of this ancient religious complex visible in the spatial organization of the sacred precinct.
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Colonnaded Approach
Walk the colonnaded approach to the Temple of Bel where the monumental entrance to the sacred precinct prepared worshippers for the experience of the divine, the processional route from the city to the temple a key element of the ancient religious experience.
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Reconstruction Plans
Learn about the international plans for reconstructing the Temple of Bel using 3D scanning data and photographic documentation collected before the ISIS destruction, the extraordinary technical challenge of recreating one of antiquity greatest religious monuments.