TEMPLE OF BAALSHAMIN, sanctuary in Palmyra (present-day Syria) built in the second century AD and destroyed in 2015 by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The temple was of hybrid design, blending Greco-Roman and Near Eastern styles with a forecourt of Corinthian columns that framed the sanctuary, as typical of ancient Roman architecture, and side windows in the Syrian tradition.
The temple was dedicated to the god Baalshamin, one of two supreme gods in the ancient Semitic religion, whose name means “Lord of the Heavens.” Baalshamin was worshiped as a god of fertility, rain, and storms, capable of bringing prosperity and abundance to the land. The temple played a significant role in the religious and cultural life of Palmyra, serving not only as a place of worship but also as a symbol of the city’s rich, complex identity. It attracted pilgrims and visitors from far and wide, contributing to the cosmopolitan character of Palmyra as a thriving center of trade and commerce.
In August 2015 the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) captured Palmy ra and killed Dr. Khaled al-Assaad, an archaeologist and academic who had overseen the preservation of the temple for decades. On August 23, ISIS detonated explosives inside the temple, completely destroying it. The temple’s destruction was met with shock and outrage, prompting condemnation from UNESCO, world leaders, and cultural-heritage organizations. Efforts to preserve and protect the remains continue to this day, and Syria's director of antiquities has vowed to rebuild the temple.