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