Temple of Bel, Dura-Europos

The discovery of wall paintings in the temple sparked interest and the find was even reported in The New York Times, in an article from 10 June 1922.

[5] Based on the unpublished iconography that Ted Kaizer analyzed, he argues that the deity who reigned under "Zeus" was Bel.

Iarhibol has appeared in several reliefs that depict him as the sun god, associated with the triad of Bel, standing alongside Aglibol to his right.

[13] The Altar to Iarhibol was found at the entrance of the Temple of Bel by the Yale-French excavation team in the years of 1928-1929.

The inscription on this Altar was inscribed in Greek by a Roman Commander, Skeibonios Moukianos, which reads: "To the god Iarhibol.

However, literal translations of the Greek suggest that Skeibonios is a misspelling for the Latin name Scribonius and that the transcription for Moukianos reads as Mucianus based on the evidence from the military parchments found from the excavation site.

However, another translation offered for the text on the altar is as follows: "[For] the god Iarhibol, Scribonius Moucianus, chiliarch, made this as commanded."

Thus, a Latin-named dedicant, who holds a Greek-titled office in the Roman army, records his offering to the Palmyrene god Yarhibol in Greek.

"[14] The fact that the term Chiliarch refers to the commander in an Ancient Macedonian army raises more questions about who the inhabitants of the Temple might have been.

At Dura-Europos, relatively well-preserved wall paintings survived, many of them dating from the period when the city was under Roman rule (AD 164-256).

These deities were initially identified with the Palmyrene gods, Yarhibol, Aglibol, and Malakbel, hence one of the modern English names associated with the temple.

More recent research has revealed the statues of the Roman emperor, indicating that this was a centre of Imperial cult.

Temple of Bel
Pearson's drawing of the isometric reconstruction of Temple of Bel in the final period
Dura-Europos general excavations plan, Temple of the Palmyrene gods is marked as J9
A base relief dedicated to Bel . Bel (to the far right), Baalshamin (to the far left), Iarhibol and Aglibol between them. Like Bel, Baalshamin was another supreme god of worship in ancient Syria. [ 5 ]
Photograph of the Altar to Iarhibol taken in 1928-1929
Julius Terentius Performing a Sacrifice. Commissioned by the Roman tribune at Dura-Europos, Julius Terentius (depicted and identified here by Latin inscription), this painting mixes Greek, Roman, and Palmyrene elements, perhaps as a gesture of diplomacy. Performing an official sacrifice in front of a military standard, Terentius stands with his men. Although in Roman military attire, these soldiers are Palmyrenes; one of them (Themes, son of Mokimos) is identified in Greek as a priest. The sacrifice, a burning of incense, was an act of worship common in both Near Eastern and Roman sanctuaries. Here it takes place in the presence of divinities, all nimbate. The Tychai of Dura and Palmyra are shown in Hellenistic style incorporating some Near Eastern features. Three male statues of deities enigmatically combine Roman cuirasses and Palmyrene attributes (such as the peaked helmet). Their lack of identifying labels creates ambiguity as to whether they represent Palmyrene gods or deified Roman emperors. This may have been done intentionally, to appeal to viewers of different backgrounds. [ 15 ]
The sacrifice of Konon, wall painting in the Temple of Bel.