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

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