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

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