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.

94 pictures related to this museum

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