Ba'al, the idol of Baalbek
بعل صنم بعلبك
The idol named in the verse 'Do you call on Baal and forsake the best of creators?' — housed at Baalbek where the Greeks had chosen the ground between Lebanon and Sanir for idols; two mighty temples whose stone carvings could not be matched in wood 1.
At a glance
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Overview
An idol of Baal in the city of Baalbek, in the district of Damascus, in the Sanir region. Al-Mas'udi says it is the idol mentioned in the verse of al-Saffat, Al-Saffat 125. 2
Structure
Al-Mas'udi notes that the Greeks chose a stretch of land between Mount Lebanon and Mount Sanir and made it a place for idols. There are two great buildings, one older than the other, and in them are carvings cut into the stone, which he says could not be made in wood. 2
Sources
- Muruj al-Dhahab — al-Masʼudi, p. 554
- Muruj al-Dhahab — al-Masʼudi, p.554
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Ba'al, the idol of Baalbek”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/object/baal-sanam/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-17.