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

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