Greek and Roman travelers frequently crossed the Békaa Valley and knew it very well. However, they believed that the valley ran from east to west, instead of north to south, as it really is situated. As a result, the Greeks and Romans believed that both Lebanese mountain chains ran perpendicular to the Mediterranean coastline. This belief continued until the days of the Arab geographer Al-Idrissi, during the 12th century.

The belief that the Békaa Valley ran from east to west had significant political repercussions. After his victory in 31 B.C. over Mark Anthony and Cleopatra, the Roman general Octavius, who  became the Emperor Augustus and the founder of the Roman Empire, founded the colony of Beirut. He annexed to this colony all the lands of the Békaa Valley "until the sources of the Orontes River." This action would not have been possible if the Roman administration was not sure that the Békaa Valley was situated perpendicular to the coastline, thus forming the inland space of  the new colony.

Baalbek was the largest construction project Emperor Augustus and his successors ever attempted in the region. Baalbek became an important cultic and pilgrimage site, in addition to an essential meeting point for all the caravans crossing the Békaa Valley from the interior to the south (Palestine) or to the Mediterranean coast. Consequently, Baalbek and the Békaa Valley were transformed into a center for the dissemination of Roman civilization and the demonstration of Roman power to the inhabitants of the region.

As a result, the villages and towns of the Békaa began to build Roman-style temples dedicated to their own local gods. This explains the great number of temples spread throughout the valley.

It would be impossible to describe all the Roman temples of the Békaa Valley. This brochure will focus on five of the most significant sites: Fourzol, Niha, Hosn Niha, Temnine El-Faouqa, and Qsarnaba. Please consult the separate brochure, Archaeological Promenade – Baalbek, for extensive information on the Baalbek temples.