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

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