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, 2019.

94 pictures related to this museum

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