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, Royal Tomb II (Ip-Chemou-Abi), Pectoral	Baalbek, Funerary wreath	Sidon, Bronze Age bottle	Byblos, Temple with the obelisks, Statuette of a deity
Beirut, Theater mask	Byblos, Royal Tomb V, Sarcophagus of Ahirom	Solon	Tyre, Sarcophagus of the Drunken Cupids, back
Byblos, Relief with a hieroglyphic text	Byblos, Inlay with Egyptian lotus flowers	Byblos, mosaic with Silenus	Beirut, Tyche
Tyre, Statue of a female deity	Sidon, Bustan esh-Sheikh, Temple of Eshmun, foundation inscription	Byblos, Phoenician funerary inscription	Sidon, Bustan esh-Sheikh, Throne of Astarte
Bias	Tyre, Wall painting of a carrier	Sidon, Sarcophagus relief of Psyche	Sidon, Phoenician statue
Tyre, Hellenistic throne of Astarte	Tyre, Phoenician statue	Byblos, mosaic with the abduction of Europa	Tyre, Sarcophagus of Achilles: the Corpse of Hector.
Tyre, Sarcophagus of Achilles: lions	Sidon, Capital of a Persian column	Sidon-Dakerman, Middle Bronze jar	Byblos, Chalcolithic amulets
Niha, Roman altar, dedicated to a female deity (Fortuna), with two lions	Tyre, Sarcophagus of Achilles: Washing the Body of Patroclus	Chilon	Sidon, Base of a Persian column
Tyre, Sarcophagus with a Fighting Scene	A big lump, containing some inhomogenuous pieces of ancient glass	Beirut, Torso of a colossus	Sidon, Bustan esh-Sheikh, Relief of a horseman
Beirut, Mercury or Hermes	Byblos, Statuette of Bes	Tyre, Sarcophagus of Achilles: killing of a Trojan Captive	Baalbek, Theater, Model
Thales	Byblos, Royal Tombs, Pectoral	Byblos, Statuette of a hippopotamus	Byblos, Temple with the obelisks, Gold disk
Byblos, Statue of pharaoh Osorkon II	Cleobulus	A murex shell	Sidon, Bustan esh-Sheikh, Tribune, Relief with Muses
Baalbek, Gold mask	Sidon, Roman doll	Beirut, Envy Mosaic