The pyramid shape
A tower with a pointed top.
Kamouh el Hermel is a strange old monument on a hill in the northern Beqaa, south of Hermel town, shaped like a stone tower topped by a pyramid. It can be seen from far off above the open plain. Researchers do not fully understand its purpose, which adds to its appeal, making it a striking stop for anyone reaching this rarely visited part of Lebanon. It stands between 19.6 and 27 m high according to sources. It rests on a base of three black basalt steps, with two massive limestone blocks of 40 to 50 tonnes each and a pyramid above. Parts of it were restored in 1931. Traces of a Neolithic site with flint tools have been found around it. Its sides carry relief hunting scenes: two deer on the north, a boar attacked by dogs and speared on the east, two wolves attacking a bull on the west and a damaged image on the south. Sadly graffiti covers its base, as it suffered heavy vandalism between 2000 and 2018, but its overall shape stays impressive beneath the wide sky. It is about 6 km south of Hermel and about 44 km in a straight line from Baalbek. A fence surrounds it. Bring water and a hat, do not add graffiti and do not touch the reliefs. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all but essential travel to this area, so check official guidance before planning.
A tower with a pointed top.
Deer, wolves and a boar.
A far view from the hill.
South of Hermel town, Baalbek-Hermel Governorate, Lebanon
Researchers do not fully understand this, and it goes by several names, including the Pyramid of Hermel.
It was vandalised between 2000 and 2018, and graffiti covers its base.