Heliopolis (Roman Phoenicia)
Early Christian writers such as Eusebius (from nearby Caesarea) repeatedly execrated the practices of the local pagans in their worship of the Heliopolitan Venus. In the early 4th century, the deacon Cyril defaced many of the idols in Heliopolis; he was killed and (allegedly) cannibalised Around the same time, Constantine, though not yet a Christian, demolished the goddess's temple, raised a basilica in its place, and outlawed the locals' ancient custom of prostituting women before marriage. The enraged locals responded by raping and torturing Christian virgins. The city was so noted for its hostility to the Christians, that Alexandrians were banished to it as a special punishment.