A fact from Belat temple appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 12 March 2023 (check views). The text of the entry was as follows:
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Latest comment: 1 year ago6 comments3 people in discussion
The following is an archived discussion of the DYK nomination of the article below. Please do not modify this page. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as this nomination's talk page, the article's talk page or Wikipedia talk:Did you know), unless there is consensus to re-open the discussion at this page. No further edits should be made to this page.
... that an unidentified ancient temple(pictured) may be the finest example of a "high place" in the Galilee? Source: Ernest Renan: "However that may be, Bélat is the finest example of a "high place" that the country has to show."... Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener: "From these considerations I am led to the supposition that we have here one of the most perfect and earliest specimens of a temple dedicated to some deity worshipped on this "high place," and attended by a number of priests or votaries who were lodged in the surrounding buildings."... (citations in the article)
Overall: Without the block quotes I think we still have 1800+ characters. The hook is interesting and verified. The image should be cropped if used since it does not appear clear at this size. Lightburst (talk) 16:44, 25 February 2023 (UTC)Reply
Latest comment: 1 year ago7 comments2 people in discussion
Hi, Onceinawhile, thanks for this interesting article. I'm wondering if the Belat referred to here could be present day Blat (بلاط), Lebanon. Kitchener describes it as being within sight of "Kh. Taiyebeh," which is maybe Taybeh (Marjaayoun). Based upon google maps, they seem to be pretty close. Following the directions from [1] on a map also puts us pretty close to Blat, and there is a description of a temple of Blat, though I'm not sure if they match. Eddie891TalkWork14:06, 25 February 2023 (UTC)Reply
The Blat in William McClure Thomson that you linked to is definitely the same topic of this article: “… Blat, which Mr. Van de Velde visited with so much tribulation of soul and travail of body. It is one hour and a half west of Cosa, and occupies the most conspicuous position in all this region. The architects of this temple were lovers of the sublime, and selected a spot on which to build and pray which commands prospects in all directions of great beauty. It was evidently a place of importance, but its history is utterly lost. The columns of the temple are visible to a vast distance, and all around are masses of ruins in wild confusion, and overgrown with thorns and briers.”Onceinawhile (talk) 14:37, 25 February 2023 (UTC)Reply