45 Ancient Ruins That Are Even More Stunning Than the Pyramids

40. Baalbek (Beqaa Valley, Lebanon): Colossal Roman Temple Complex

In Lebanon’s fertile Beqaa Valley, Baalbek is home to some of the largest and most awe-inspiring Roman temple ruins ever constructed. Despite its Middle Eastern location, it was a grand Roman colony. The sheer scale of the Temple of Bacchus, remarkably preserved, and the colossal columns of the Temple of Jupiter – some of the tallest in the world – are staggering. The precise stonework, including the 1000-ton "Stone of the Pregnant Woman" still in the quarry, continues to mystify engineers. Baalbek stands as a dramatic testament to Roman imperial ambition.