Yanta, Lebanon

Yanta (Arabic: ينطا), is a village situated in Rashaya District, Beqaa Governorate, Lebanon, 79 kilometres (49 mi) from Beirut. It is located close to the Syrian border north of Kfar Qouq. Its inhabitants are Druze.^[1]

Yanta ينطا
Village
Country	Lebanon
Governorate	Beqaa
District	Rashaya
Area
• Total	12.01 sq mi (31.11 km2)
Elevation	5,050 ft (1,540 m)

Yanta

Shown within Lebanon
Alternative name	Yanta
Location	north of Kfar Qouq
Region	Bekaa Valley
Coordinates	33.603056°N 35.944167°E / 33.603056; 35.944167
History
Cultures	Roman
Site notes
Condition	Ruins
Public access	Yes

The village sits about 1,540 metres (5,050 ft) above sea level. The name is variously claimed to mean "God sows" or "God the sower" in Semitic, "white dove" in Syriac and "elevation" in Arabic.^[2] It has been noted that a special type of yellow marl (lake sediments) has been noticed in Yanta and the surrounding area dated to the Oxfordian.^[3] In 2001 and 2002, archaeological studies were carried out at Kamid al lawz near Yanta that unearthed a large amount of Ancient Greek pottery.^[4]

Roman temple

There are ruins of an impressively sized and positioned Roman temple in the area that is presumed to have been built on the site of a forerunning Semitic temple.^[5][6] The ruins lie on either side of the road and are sparse but retain some upright stones. Around the site are remnants of ancient habitation and tombs.