Qasr el Banat, Lebanon
 Shown within Lebanon
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| Alternate name | Qasr el Banât, Qasr al Banat, Kasr el-Banat, Qasr El-Banaat |
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| Region | Baalbek |
| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| History | |
| Cultures | Roman |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | Ruins |
| Public access | Yes |
Qasr el Banat is an ancient temple situated 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) east of Chlifa in the Baalbek District of the Beqaa Governorate in Lebanon.[1][2] It is believed the site was called the castle of virgins and was the residence of virgins in Roman times.[3][4]
George F. Taylor classified Qasr el Banat among a group of Temples of the Beqaa Valley. It is suggested to date to Ancient Roman, Ancient Greek eras or earlier. The temple is located on a rocky plateau, accessible by a climb up a hill. The top of the hill is covered in various platforms, cisterns, tanks and steps that have been carved out of solid bedrock. Within the remains is a small antae temple, constructed of large square blocks that was used as a fortress in later times. Some sections remain intact built up two or three layers high. A basilica from a later period was built alongside the temple.[1]
There are two circular structures located around 100 metres (330 ft) southeast of the temple that are thought to have been examples of the high places referenced in the Bible.
References
External links
- Photo of the temple at Qasr el Banat on picasaweb
- Photo of the temple at Qasr el Banat on panoramio.com
- Photo of the temple at Qasr el Banat on panoramio.com
- Photo of the view from Qasr el Banat on panoramio.com
- Visiting Deir el Ahmar in Bekaa Valley, Lebanese Ministry of Tourism brochure
- Qasr El-Banat on middleeast.com
- Qasr el Banat on mapatlas.org
- Qasr el Banat on geographic.org
