The Temple of the Obelisks (French: Temple aux Obelisques, Arabic: معبد الأنصابmaebad al'ansab), also known as the L-shaped Temple and Temple of Resheph[1] was an important Bronze Age temple structure in the World Heritage Site of Byblos.[2] It is considered "perhaps the most spectacular" of the ancient structures of Byblos.[3] It is the best preserved building in the Byblos archaeological site.[4]
Almost all of the artefacts found in the excavation of the temple are displayed at the National Museum of Beirut.[3] It was excavated by French archaeologist Maurice Dunand from 1924-73. The original temple is now in two parts: the base is known as "the L-shaped temple", and the top is known as the "Temple of the Obelisks"; the latter was moved 40 meters east during Maurice Dunand's excavations.[2]
Dunand uncovered 1306 Byblos figurines – ex-voto offerings, including faience figurines, weapons, and dozens of bronze-with-gold-leaf figurines – which have become the "poster child" of the Lebanese Tourism Ministry.[5]
Description
Base: L Shaped Temple
The L Shaped Temple
The L-shaped Temple was constructed around 2600 BCE,[6] two centuries after the construction of the Temple of Baalat Gebal (approximately 100m to the west) had been built.[6] It was named the "L-shaped" temple by Dunand, as its two rooms and the courtyard were arranged in such a shape.[6]
The temple had well built walls and temples, in contrast to the later Obelisk temple.[2] It is thought that the L-shaped temple was burned down at the end of the Early Bronze Age.[7]
Top: Obelisk Temple
The Obelisk Temple
The Temple of the Obelisks was constructed around 1600 BCE[citation needed] on top of the L-shaped temple, retaining its general outline.[2] The temple's name, given by Dunand, refers to a number of obelisks and standing stones located in a court around the cella.[7] The Abishemu obelisk has been interpreted to include a dedication to Resheph, a Canaanite war god, although this is disputed.[7] Another obelisk has a hieroglyphic inscription Middle Bronze Age king of Byblos Ibishemu, praising the Egyptian god Heryshaf.[7]
Since it had been built on top of the L-shaped temple, it was necessary for Dunand to dismantle and move this upper temple in order to excavate the L-shaped temple beneath.[2]
In contrast to the L-shaped temple beneath, the Obelisk Temple was built with irregular walls.[2]
Modern identification and excavation
The temple was first identified by Dunand.[8][7] The majority of the obelisks found were underground in their original positions, standing upright, while a few others were discovered buried in a favissa (a well for votive deposits).[7]
1959 view of the temple base and top
Montet's 1924 diagram of the Byblos archaeological site
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