Duris,  is a village located approximately 3km  southwest of Baalbeck in the Bekaa Vally. It is the site of a 13th-century Muslim shrine and a necropolis from the late Roman Imperial period that is currently undergoing archaeological investigation.

qubbat duris 1

The Qubbat Duris was built in  1243 ( 641) during the Ayyubid era. Its sarcophagus was raised or left standing to serve as a mihrab, helping to direct prayers towardsMecca. Its columns were probably removed from the ruins of nearby Baalbeck Citadel and are assembled haphazardly, one being upside-down. Almost all of these sarcophagi had already been robbed in antiquity, but one had been left intact and contained a rich assemblage of objects.
According to the local inhabitants other sarcophagi had been found from time to time in the surrounding gardens, thus indicating a large necropolis that probably belonged to one of the many suburbs of ancient Baalbek and was situated close to the ancient road along the eastern border of the Beqaa plain.

qubbat duris 2

qubbat duris baalbeck

 

The late Roman burials in the necropolis of Douris followed a common pattern: a rectangular limestone sarcophagus was used as coffin. It was put in a simple rock-cut depression in the ground. The exterior walls of the sarcophagi were decorated with rosettes, garlands and other ornaments that were not worked in great detail.

qubbat duris baalbeck