Podium

View looking east along the north wall of the “Temple of Hercules”  on the citadel of Philadelphia (Amman).  In the foreground is the northwest corner of the podium of the temple.  On the left side of the image (northeast corner) are three complete restored columns. 

For a detail of the columns Click Here .

This temple was built upon an older, ninth century B.C., temple that was probably dedicated to the Ammonite god Milcom.  Although called the “Temple of Hercules” – Roman coins associate this demi-god with Philadelphia – the identity of the deity worshiped at the temple is not certain.  Indeed one excavator believes that Astarte was worshiped here.

This image courtesy of Mark Connally.