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

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