Baalbek je ancient complex of temples located at an altitude of over 1500 meters at the foot of the Anti-Lebanon. One of the most amazing areas of the complex is Temple of Jupiter, which was built by the Romans in the 1st century AD. It is one of the largest temples of the Roman Empire.

Temple of Jupiter

In the foundations of this temple there are at least three megalithic stones, each weighing at least 800 tons. But even more impressive is the discovery of a megalithic stone in a quarry a kilometer away. One of the largest stones worked by human hand (surely?) Was discovered by representatives of the German Archaeological Institute in early December 2014. The stone weighs approximately 1650 tons, is 19,5 meters long, 5,5 meters high and 6 meters wide.

Because the temple contains small stone blocks that are of the same material as the megaliths in the Temple of Jupiter, the prevailing view in official archeology is that the Romans concluded that the lifting and handling of such large stones (1000 tons or more each) is very difficult. According to official theory, it is stated that one of the megaliths was not used precisely because the quality of the stone at one of its ends was poor. Journalist, writer and researcher Graham Hancock is not so sure of this official theory. He believes that the Romans were much better designers than is mentioned in this case.

Hancock is of the opinion that these megaliths were worked much older civilizations dated somewhere up to 12000 years ago. The Romans then only came to the finished platform in their time, on which they built their temple complex. Hancock is also surprised to point out that the formation of these megaliths coincides in time with another megalithic site - Göbekli Tepe in Turkey.

Why, Hancock asks, would the Romans embark on such a difficult task of machining such massive blocks (megaliths) in place to cut straight small blocks that were not so strenuous to work with? We know that the Romans used smaller blocks to build the temple complex above the foundation platform itself. If they could work with megaliths, why would they mine another stone in a quarry if they could use what was already there? Hancock made a research expedition to Lebanon in July 2014 to personally look at these megaliths. He believes that the megaliths found in the quarry were unknown to the Romans, as until recently the sediments were covered.

Let's admit the theory that the Romans could extract, work and move the three 800-ton stones to the temple in Baalbek. For some reason, however, they were no longer able to manipulate their larger cousins, which we have now discovered in the quarry. However, it still remains a mystery how they could move with such large megalities weighing 800 tons? Proponents of official theory cannot explain this either.

"I am aware that even larger stones than those of Baalbek (such as the so-called Thunder Stone from St. Petersburg) have been moved and placed on flat surfaces (ie at ground level) of recent history," Hancock writes. "But moving and placing three 800-ton megaliths at 5,4 to 6,1 meters above ground level, as in Baalbek, is a completely different problem. It is necessary to consider the matter carefully, rather than simply saying, "The Romans did it," as most archaeologists are currently trying.

Hancock writes: "There is no doubt that the Romans could move large blocks of stones. There is also no doubt that they are responsible for the classic majestic appearance of the temple itself. However, I am currently working on the assumption that they built their temple on top of a megalithic platform that had stood here for many thousands of years before that.

We now know that the Phoenicians used the place about 7000 BC to worship a trinity of gods: Ball-Shamash, Anat, and Aliyan. Nevertheless, we do not know more information about the civilization that was able to move these megaliths. Graham Hacock continues his research.

Many mysteries surround this place, and Hancock does not say that he will ever be able to explain it all. He merely states that he challenges the prevailing official theory and that he continues to continue his research in support of his own hypothesis.