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.

91 pictures related to this museum

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