Temple of Baalat Gebal
[1] The temple was dedicated to Ba'alat Gebal, the goddess of the city of Byblos, known later to the Greeks as Atargatis.[2] Built in 2800 BCE,[3] it was the largest and most important sanctuary in ancient Byblos,[4] and is considered to be "one of the first monumental structures of the Syro-Palestinian region".[3] The length and continuity of its history as an active temple is "remarkable" and "supports its centrality in the life of the city".[9] The temple, and its patroness, Ba‘alat Gebal, were venerated in the city for more than two millennia during the Canaanite and Phoenician eras.It was constructed when Byblos had close ties with Egypt, and a number of Egyptian references are found throughout the temple complex.