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

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