National Museum Of Beirut – Mosaics

As I begin writing about the artifacts contained in the National Museum of Beirut, my enthusiasm carries me away and there ends up being too many favorites to fit into just one post.  So, I have divided the five original subheadings into separate posts.  This delivers two benefits: it allows me to indulge my enthusiasm and fit more in about each category and it means that you can navigate more easily to the subjects that hold your interest.  Whether you’re an enthusiast or just flicking through, I hope you enjoy these mosaics.

Mosaics

Jupiter and Jupiter’s moon, Ganymede, are the largest planet and satellite (respectively) in the solar system.  This mosaic, Jupiter and Ganymede (above) refers to the Roman legend (Zeus in Greek legends).  Jupiter, the Roman god of sky and thunder, also sometimes depicted as an eagle, caught sight of Ganymede, first king of Troy as a young boy tending his sheep.  Jupiter took the shape of an eagle and abducted the beautiful boy to serve as a cup bearer to the gods in Olympus.  Jupiter granted him eternal youth and immortality and to honor these events it is said that Jupiter placed Aquila (the eagle) and Aquarius (the water bearer) as constellations in the heavens.

The Mosaic of the Seven Wise Men (below) is right at the beginning of the museum as you enter the main gallery space.  The mosaic was found at the excavation of a Roman villa in Baalbek.  At the centre sits Calliope (Kaliope), the muse of philosophy.  She is surrounded by seven of the most prominent philosophers of ancient Greece:  Socrates, Chilon of Sparta, Pittacus of Mytilenaen, Periander of Corinth, Cleobulus (damaged) tyrant of Lindos, Bias of Priene, Thales of Miletus and Solon of Athens.  These figures were renown for their wisdom and were not only philosophers but statesmen and law makers of the 6th Century BC.

What I don’t understand is why it’s called the mosaic of the seven sages (wise men) when there are eight figures here.  Were only seven of them wise?  If so, which one was the dud?

The Abduction of Europa (from whom Europe takes her name, below) is more of a legend than just a mosaic.  The story goes that princess Europa, the daughter of Aganor, king of Tyre, was walking along the seashore with her friends when she was noticed by the god, Zeus.  Zeus was so taken by her that he turned himself into a bull with crescent shaped horns in order to trick her and lure her away.

The abduction of Europe – Byblos, 3rd Century AD

Zeus, in bull form, approached Europa and sat himself down at her feet.  Although initially shy, she became less frightened, petting him and eventually sitting on his back at which point, he ran off into the sea, abducting her to Crete.  Once in Crete, Zeus transformed back into his human shape.  Europa gave him three sons: Minos, Rhadamathus and Sanpedon.

Minos became the first king of Crete.  According to Greek mythology, every nine years he made King Aegus send seven young children as a sacrifice to Daedalus’s labyrinth to be eaten by the Minotaur.

Rhadamathus seems to have surpassed his brother’s kindnesses, being known as the wise king of Crete.  This didn’t do him much good, however, as he was eventually driven out of Crete by Minos, who was jealous of his brother’s popularity.

Being raised by King Asterion didn’t save Sanpedon either who was also exiled by Minos.  He fled to Asia eventually becoming king of Lycia.  Not, however, before he first became a hero of the Trojan War.  The three of them together are frequently referred to as ‘judges of the dead’.

As for Europa’s family, her mother and three brothers went looking for her, largely under order by her father, the king.  They never returned to Tyre.

The Birth of Alexander is another great legend, and great mosaic.  Son of Phillip of Macedon and Olympias of Epirus.  Alexander was king of Macedonia at twenty but is more widely known for his Asian and African military campaigns which caused him to become leader of one of the largest empires of ancient Greece, and to his being known as Alexander the Great.  Olympias herself played not a small role in this, pushing his education and status from a very early age.

The Good Shepherd is a symbolic representation of Christ in the Christian tradition.  It is also considered representative of goodwill in the pagan tradition.  He is depicted here in the centre of the mosaic carrying a sheep on his shoulder and surrounded by various other animals.

The mosaic is sealed to the wall and was badly damaged during the Lebanese Civil War (1975 – 1991).  A gaping hole in the bottom left hand corner was used by snipers during this time.

In Greek mythology, Acme can be translated to the ‘top’ or ‘pinnacle’, in the context of the types of love, this is often known as ‘perfection’.  Eros (or Cupid) the son of Aphrodite, goddess of sexual love and beauty, can be interpreted as ‘desire’.  Charis is the goddess of graces: charm, beauty, nature, human creativity and fertility.  Therefore this rather ordinary looking mosaic has a much deeper meaning, it refers to the state of perfect love, a balance between desire and grace or charm.

Silenus was a companion and tutor to the wine god Dionysus.  Although generally depicted drunk, Greek mythology has him possessing special knowledge and the power of prophecy in his intoxicated state.

This last one I can’t find anything about but I like the lioness and the fact that she looks both fierce and vulnerable at the same time.

Good To Know

See the other posts in the National Museum of Beirut series:

• Sarcophagi
• Jewelry

The exhibits are set out over three floors and it’s do-able in 2-3 hours, but really deserves more time.  Be sure to obtain the free guide available at the cloak room desk (just in front of the shop on the left as you enter).  Also, don’t miss the 15 minute introductory video which plays on the right side of the entrance.  This is a must see, it explains the history of the museum and the thought and care that has been taken to restore both the building and the exhibits after the devastation of the civil war.

Would I Return?

Yes.  By comparison to others it’s a relatively small museum but it has a rich history, not only in the exhibits but in the building and the story.  Don’t miss the introductory video, it had me in tears!

Author’s note: the factual descriptions in this post are sourced from a combination of information available from the site and supplemented by further research from the likes of Wikipedia and relevant links.