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