Il Temple en L a Biblo

Abstract

The so-called “L-shaped” Temple, erected around the mid-third millennium BC in the centre
of the ancient settlement, represents one the most important and long-lasting sanctuaries of
Byblos.
The sacred compound consisted of four main pièces: the sacred precinct (Bâtiment XIV), the
trapezoidal avant-cour (Bâtiment XV), and two auxiliary units, respectively to the north-east
(Bâtiment XIII) and to the west (Bâtiment XVI), devoted to the cult.
In the central temenos three small in antis cellae were erected, thus testifying to also at Byblos
he adoption of the typology of sacred architecture of the Syro-Palestinian region in the mid-third
millennium BC. The Byblos complex represents from this point of view an interesting attestation,
as it joined in the same complex both of the known versions of the in antis typology, the northderived Langraum cella and Levantine squared Breitraum cella, according to the key role of
Byblos at the crossroad of the cultural and trade network of the ancient Near East and eastern
Mediterranean in the whole pre-classical era.