Propylaea
Twelve Aswan rose-granite columns. Twin towers. Cedar ceiling. Monumental stair — the gate of the sun’s city.
Heliopolis
The sanctuary, east to west
Colonia Julia Augusta Felix Heliopolitana on the Beqaa floor (~1,150 m). Processional axis: Propylaea → Hexagonal Court → Great Court → Temple of Jupiter (west, high). Bacchus immediately south, lower. Venus southeast — circular.
Peak glory layout
Evidence-locked plan
Hexagonal Court
Six-sided transition — compress, then release into the Great Court.
Great Court
Vast enclosure, twin hexagonal basins, porticoes — axial walk to Jupiter high west.
Temple of Jupiter
West podium, highest. Columns ~19.9 m. ~54 columns. Trilithon of three ~800 t blocks in the podium.
Temple of Bacchus
South of Jupiter, lower. Richest decoration: hex coffers, eagle-cupid door, lion cornice, terracotta roof.
Temple of Venus
Circular horseshoe southeast — concave bays, jewel scale against the giants.
Engineering · not legend
- Honey-cream Cretaceous limestone dressed as if finished this year
- Aswan granite reserved for Propylaea colonnade
- Terracotta tegula & imbrex roofs with lion-head waterspouts
- Haulage: ramps, sledges, rollers, levers, capstans — Roman consensus logistics
- No lost technology. No ancient-aliens claims.