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

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