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

> fill in your workbooks p. 80> fill in your workbooks p. 80Location & 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 locatedwas the Greek name for Baalbek). It is located, the town called Baalbek (modern day Lebanon).Meaning of name: Temple dedicated to the god, Bacchus/Dionysus. This can be seen through the decorations surrounding the entrance which shows scenes of the god’s birth and life. 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.79 in your workbooksP.79 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

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 doorwayThe 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 pattering – a vine motif (grape or ivy) bands of elaborate pattering – 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

Sculptural featuresSculptural 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:Interior:The projecting The projecting

engaged engaged columns and the columns and the

spaces spaces between, on the between, on the interior, give a interior, give a

feeling of feeling of movement. The movement. The elaborate and elaborate and deeply carved deeply carved

decoration decoration produces the produces the effects of light effects of light

and shade, and shade, reminiscent of reminiscent of

Antonine Antonine Baroque Baroque

sculpture.sculpture.

Comparing two temples, Maison Caree and Temple of

BacchusSimilarities 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 had frontal aspectBoth had frontal aspect

Both have a podiumBoth have a podium

Both are in a sanctuaryBoth are in a sanctuary

Both have corinthian capitalsBoth have corinthian capitals

Both have engaged columnsBoth have engaged 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 one3 flights of steps, not one

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 decorationdecoration

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

Decoration from Decoration from life of Bacchuslife of Bacchus

Freestanding Freestanding Peripteral Peripteral colonnadecolonnade

Corinthian Corinthian capitalscapitals

Fluted columnsFluted columns

Busts of Busts of Ganymede on Ganymede on ceiling of porticoceiling of portico

On a large scaleOn a large scale

inner shrine inner shrine inside cella inside cella (adyton) for statue(adyton) for statue

Use of local Use of local stonestone

The two towersThe two towers

A high podiumA high podium

A deep entrance A deep entrance porch – (prostyle)porch – (prostyle)

A frontal aspectA frontal aspect