Barbar Temple

26.22611111111150.484166666667Koordinaten: 26 ° 13 ' 34 "N, 50 ° 29 ' 3" O

Near the village of Barbar on the northern coast of the main island of Bahrain, the remains of a prehistoric temple were excavated. It is one of the most important buildings, which can be attributed to the culture of Dilmun. The temple was excavated from 1954 to 1961 by a Danish archaeological team, but then again filled to protect it from further destruction. In 1983 he was exhumed and opened to the public ever since.

During the excavations three successive temples could be distinguished (Temple I - III). The oldest of these temples was built around 2250 BC. This was on a round hill, at the southwest corner there was a source. The temple itself consisted of a getreppten structure, with the actual, temple on it. In the east, there was an oval enceinte. Temple II was the best preserved and similar. The source was edged with stones and connected by a staircase to the temple proper, which in turn consisted of two platforms, the inner trapezoidal in about. Here were found on the ground remains of submissions for altars. In a shaft were found alabaster vessels, the copper handle of a mirror in human form and the copper head of a bull.

Temple III was poorly preserved and has suffered greatly from stone robbery. Again, there was a platform that was at least 4 feet high. Simultaneously with Temple III, a second temple was built in the Northeast, which stood on a platform.

It is not known what deity was worshiped here. From Mesopotamian texts is known that Inzak was the main deity of Dilmun, which in turn was viewed as the son of Enki. Enki was also god of fresh water, which in turn can drag a link to the source in the temple, but it is not known that Enki was worshiped in Dilmun.