Baalbek is a city in Lebanon. It is located 80 km north-east of Beirut at an altitude of 1130 m.
It is the oldest city on earth. It is surrounded by many legends. According to one of them, the foundation of Baalbek were created by Adam’s son Cain. Cain found shelter there after he had jealously killed his brother Abel. According to another legend, the city was built by Nimrod with the help of the Giants.
The first mention of the city occurs in Assyrian inscriptions of 804 BC. It is believed that it was founded by the Phoenicians.
The most famous building of Baalbek is the Temple of Jupiter. It was built in the 2nd century AD on the site of the sanctuary of Baal. Unfortunately, the temple did not survive to the present day. It was destroyed by a powerful earthquake. Only six of its 22 meter-high columns remain. Now only they can be used to judge the greatness of the temple.
