Beirut, National Museum

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.

89 pictures related to this museum

Statuette of the Dioscuri	Byblos, Statuette of a hippopotamus	Byblos, Temple with the obelisks, Gold disk	Tyre, Sarcophagus of Achilles: the Corpse of Hector.
Sidon, Sarcophagus relief of Psyche	Torso of a colossus	Sidon, Coin with a triere	Byblos, Temple with the obelisks, Sword, grip
Byblos, Temple with the obelisks, Statuette of a deity	Roman colonnade (originally near the Place d'Etoile)	Solon	Coin from Byblos: Heracles-Melqart with the features of Alexander the Great
A murex shell	Tyre, Sarcophagus of Achilles: Washing the Body of Patroclus	Coin from Byblos: Phoenician ship	Sidon-Dakerman, Middle Bronze jar
Tyre, Sarcophagus of the Drunken Cupids, front	Tyre, Sarcophagus of Achilles: lions	Stele of Ramesses II	Sidon, Bustan esh-Sheikh, Statue of a baby
Theater mask	Sidon, Base of a Persian column	Byblos, mosaic with the abduction of Europa	Byblos, Hieroglyphic text: "Lord of Byblos, beloved of Hathor"
Sidon, Sarcophagus relief of a boat	Medal of St. Catharine	Sidon, Bustan esh-Sheikh, Temple of Eshmun, foundation inscription	Bias
Byblos, Temple with the obelisks, Sword	Hellenistic throne of Astarte	Suweydie, mosaic of the Seven Sages	Tyre, Phoenician statue
Chilon	Summer and Mother Earth	Sidon, Bustan esh-Sheikh, Relief of a horseman	Pittacus
Funerary wreath	Byblos, Statue of pharaoh Osorkon II	Mercury or Hermes	Byblos, Temple with the obelisks, Axe
Statue of a female deity	Calliope	Dionysus	Tyre, Sarcophagus of the Drunken Cupids, back
Byblos, Hellenistic colossus	Byblos, Phoenician funerary inscription	Byblos, Royal Tomb II (Ip-Chemou-Abi), Pectoral (1)	Byblos, Royal Tomb V (Ahirom), Relief of a bull and griffin
Socrates	Gold mask	An altar, dedicated to a female deity (Fortuna), with two lions	Roman lady from Berytus
Byblos, Statuette of Hathor	A big lump, containing some inhomogenuous pieces of ancient glass	"Envy is a great evil. However, it has some beauty, for it consumes the eyes and the heart of the jealous."	Fresco of a carrier
Byblos, Chalcolithic burial	Byblos, Statuette of Bes	Sidon, Bustan esh-Sheikh, Tribune, Relief with Muses	Byblos, Royal Tomb II (Ip-Chemou-Abi), Box with the name of pharaoh Amunemhet I
Cleobulus	Byblos, Temple with the obelisks, Obelisk of Abi Shemou	Septimius Severus	Byblos, Royal Tombs, Pectoral
Tyre, Sarcophagus of Achilles: killing of a Trojan Captive	Byblos, Royal Tomb V, Sarcophagus of Ahirom	Sidon, Phoenician statue	Fragment of a hellenistic fresco (First Pompeian Style)
Theater, model	Kamed el-Loz, Incense burner	Byblos, Statuettes of baboons	Stone eagle and wreath
Byblos, Royal Tomb I (Abi Chemou), Pot	Sidon, Statue of a man	Byblos, Royal Tomb II (Ip-Chemou-Abi), Pectoral	Beirut, Inscription mentioning Queen Berenice and King Agrippa II
Tyre, Sarcophagus with a Fighting Scene	Byblos, mosaic with Silenus	Tyche	Byblos, Roman Nymphaeum, Statue of Hygeia
Large temple, model	Byblos, Chalcolithic amulets	Sidon, Statuette of Venus	Thales
Sidon, Capital of a Persian column	Byblos, Bull's head	Byblos, Royal Tomb I (Abi Chemou), Scimitar	Periander
Byblos, Royal Tomb II (Ip-Chemou-Abi), Pectoral