Strolling through the ancient town of Caesarea Philippi near the Syrian and Lebanese borders you will find seven pagan temples. The cave pictured above was nicknamed the Gates of Hades, also known as the Gates of Hell. Creepy would be an understatement.
The Tomb Temple of the Sacred Goats
In 220 BC under Emperor Elagabalus, goats were sacrificed as part of rituals. The bones of the goats were then buried inside a rock building that once stood on the grounds. The tomb for the animals was called, “The Tomb Temple of the Sacred Goats.”
Elagabalus was said to be one of the most corrupt emperors in Roman history. Bloodshed was common under his rule. Upon becoming emperor he took the name “Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus.” He was called Elagabalus after his death. He was 14 when he became the emperor and was remembered for not only bloodshed, but also sex scandals. He was 19 when he died.
A column from The Tomb Temple of the Sacred Goats
