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

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