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

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