Roman temple of Bziza, Roman temple in Bziza, Lebanon
The Roman temple of Bziza is an ancient sanctuary in Bziza, Lebanon, with a rectangular stone base and a portico at the front. The portico displays four columns in the Ionic style, three carved from single stone blocks and one rebuilt in later years.
This building arose in the first century after Christ as a place of worship for a Canaanite deity. When Christianity became the state religion in the Byzantine Empire, people converted the structure into a church.
The name derives from Azizos, the Phoenician morning star deity whom local people once honored here with offerings. The decorated cella doors and shell-shaped niches inside show how important this site was for Roman worshippers.
The ruin stands in a small public garden with grass and benches, about 350 meters (1,150 feet) south of the town center. The visit is freely accessible during daylight hours and usually takes no longer than half an hour.
Nearby, just three kilometers away, stands the larger Roman complex of Qasr Naous with additional temples. Together both sites offer insight into the spread of Roman cult places in the Kura district.
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