Beirut, National Museum

Q2915627

The National Museum of Beirut is one of the most interesting museums I have ever visited. The first surprise is the building itself, which is in some kind of Egyptian style. Inside, it is essentially a very big hall with lots of fine sculpture, surrounded by a gallery (on the first floor) with other types of ancient objects.

Among the highlights are a stela of Ramesses II from Tyre; the sarcophagus of king Ahirom (or Ahiram) of Byblos, with the oldest known inscription in Phoenician letters; a splendid Egyptian-looking colossus from the Hellenistic period, also from Byblos; several "thrones of Astarte"; a Persian-style column from Sidon; a beautifully sculpted, Hellenistic tribune from the sanctuary of Eshmun at Bustan esh-Sheikh; a fine bust of Septimius Severus; a third-century mosaic of the Seven Sages from Baalbek; some mosaics and several sarcophagi, including one with scenes from the final book of the Iliad.

In the gallery on the first floor, you will find all kinds of statuettes, weapons, and idols from Byblos; lots of jewelry; coins; a very fine Dionysus from Tyre; Byzantine carvings and some finds from the Islamic age. The last display contains some objects that were damaged during the Civil War. After all, the museum is built on what was once known as the Green Line: the frontier that divided Beirut. A badly damaged house, just northwest of the museum, is a reminder of the horrors.

It is quite a distance from the center of Beirut, so you need a taxi to go there. You need several hours to see all, and there is a nice bookshop. Across the street is a small restaurant, where we had some pizza and ayran.

This museum was visited in 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019.

94 pictures related to this museum

Tyre, Sarcophagus of the Drunken Cupids, front	Chilon	Byblos, Royal Tomb II (Ip-Chemou-Abi), Pectoral	Byblos, mosaic with Silenus
Byblos, Inlay with Egyptian lotus flowers	Sidon, Coin with a triere	Byblos, Royal Tomb V (Ahirom), Relief of a bull and griffin	Niha, Roman altar, dedicated to a female deity (Fortuna), with two lions
Byblos, Temple with the obelisks, Gold disk	Suweydie, Mosaic of the Seven Sages, Summer and Mother Earth	Pittacus	Byblos, Royal Tomb I (Abi Chemou), Pot
Byblos, Phoenician funerary inscription	Tyre, Wall painting of a carrier	Tyre, Phoenician statue	Socrates
Beirut, Medal of St. Catharine	Tyre, Sarcophagus of Achilles: killing of a Trojan Captive	A big lump, containing some inhomogenuous pieces of ancient glass	Coin from Byblos: Phoenician ship
Tyre, Sarcophagus of the Drunken Cupids, back	Baalbek, Theater, Model	Byblos, Royal Tomb V, Sarcophagus of Ahirom	Baalbek, Gold mask
Sidon, Capital of a Persian column	Beirut, Tyche	Beirut, Inscription mentioning Queen Berenice and King Agrippa II	Tyre, Sarcophagus of Achilles: lions
Niha, Large temple, Builders' model	Sidon, Sarcophagus relief of a boat	Baalbek, Funerary wreath	Byblos, Chalcolithic burial
Byblos, Statuette of Bes	Sidon, Figurine of Aphrodite	Byblos, Roman Nymphaeum, Statue of Hygeia	Beirut, Relief of an eagle and a wreath
Solon	Beirut, Mercury or Hermes	Kamed el-Loz, Incense burner	Byblos, Temple with the obelisks, Statuette of a deity
Periander	Beirut, Figurine of the Dioscuri	Byblos, Royal Tomb II (Ip-Chemou-Abi), Box with the name of pharaoh Amunemhet I	Byblos, Statuette of a hippopotamus
Sidon, Roman doll	Tyre, Stele of Ramesses II and Ra-Horakhty	Thales	Beirut, Statue of a Roman lady
Bias	Tyre, Sarcophagus of Achilles: the Corpse of Hector.	A murex shell	Beirut, Envy Mosaic
Sidon, Bronze Age bottle	Sidon, Bustan esh-Sheikh, Statue of a baby	Byblos, Chalcolithic amulets	Beirut, Hellenistic wall painting (First Pompeian Style)
Byblos, Hellenistic colossus	Byblos, Royal Tomb I (Abi Chemou), Scimitar	Sidon, Bustan esh-Sheikh, Temple of Eshmun, foundation inscription	Byblos, Royal Tomb II (Ip-Chemou-Abi), Pectoral
Coin from Byblos: Heracles-Melqart with the features of Alexander the Great	Beirut, Torso of a colossus	Sidon, Bustan esh-Sheikh, Relief of a horseman	Calliope
Beirut, Roman colonnade (originally near the Place d'Etoile)	Tyre, Statue of a female deity	Byblos, Temple with the obelisks, Axe	Byblos, Royal Tomb II (Ip-Chemou-Abi), Pectoral (1)
Cleobulus	Byblos, Royal Tomb V (Ahirom), Relief of king Ahirom on his throne	Beirut, Theater mask	Byblos, Statue of pharaoh Osorkon II
Suweydie, Mosaic of the Seven Sages	Byblos, mosaic with the abduction of Europa	Tyre, Portrait of Septimius Severus	Sidon, Base of a Persian column
Byblos, Temple with the obelisks, Sword	Sidon, Phoenician statue	Byblos, Royal Tombs, Pectoral	Byblos, Statuettes of baboons
Byblos, Temple with the obelisks, Sword, grip	Sidon, Statue of a man	Byblos, Relief with a hieroglyphic text	Tyre, Head of Dionysus
Byblos, Temple with the obelisks, Obelisk of Abi Chemou	Tyre, Hellenistic throne of Astarte	Sidon, Bustan esh-Sheikh, Throne of Astarte	Sidon, Sarcophagus relief of Psyche
Tyre, Sarcophagus with a Fighting Scene	Sidon, Bustan esh-Sheikh, Tribune, Relief with Muses	Sidon-Dakerman, Middle Bronze jar	Tyre, Sarcophagus of Achilles: Washing the Body of Patroclus
Byblos, Bull's head	Byblos, Statuette of Hathor