This picture shows the famous Temple of Baal in Palmyra - once the spiritual centre of the ancient city and one of the most important religious buildings in the Middle East. Dedicated to the main god Baal, the temple combined elements of Greco-Roman, Mesopotamian and Levantine architecture - symbolising Palmyra's role as a cultural melting pot and hub on the Silk Road.
The entrance area rises majestically against an immaculate blue sky. The enormous sandstone blocks, moulded and shaped over thousands of years, shine in warm ochre tones. Despite its ruinous state, the temple conveys strength, grandeur and the unbroken presence of a civilisation that breathed life into the desert.
In 2015, the Baal Temple was almost completely destroyed by extremists - this picture still shows it in its impressive entirety. It is therefore not only an artistic document, but also a historical one.
For anyone interested in archaeology, ancient cultures or the fragility of world cultural heritage, this work is more than just an eye-catcher: it is a piece of memory. An appeal for the preservation of human history - captured in light, line and time.
I have brought back many photo impressions from my travels. So that you can also enjoy the impressive pictures, I offer selected photos here that can be printed on canvas, as posters, on acrylic glass and even more media. For more travel inspiration, visit my website.. Read more…