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

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