Images The temple of Bel

There are several temples in Palmyra; the most important is dedicated to the god Bel. It was a very big temple (210 x 205 metres). In the centre of the temple, the statute of Bel was kept in a cell together with the two most important divinities following him, the gods of the sun and the moon. There was also a courtyard where animal sacrifices were performed. It is a mix of Roman and Persian influences with the typical local architecture. The temple is set on an artificial mound that dates back to the 2nd millennium B.C. and it is almost sure that this site had always been the site of a shrine.