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Name
Baetocecea / locally known
as Hosn Sleiman according to a local tradition.
Location
Approx. 30 km north east
of Safita - 58 km from the Hotel.
History
The ruins of Baetocecea a
Roman cult center dedicated to Zeus. The form is typical of
Syro-Pheonician religious tradition. The worship of for Baal was equal
to Zeus,
The sanctuary is built
in a remote area from Phoenician, Greek or Roman settlements.
Byzantine religious
buildings were later added in the vicinity of the temple.
The cella stands at
the center of a huge grey walled
compound (134x85 m). The
gates built of massive blocks of stone in each side reminiscent in
its scale and execution of Baalbek in Lebanon. |
