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