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 artifacts.
There is no rhyme or reason to the list of these artifacts that just happen to have piqued my interest on the way through the museum. Unlike the other exhibits that are easily categorized, the pieces here are just a random bunch of objects. However, they’re lovely and interesting objects that I enjoyed learning a little bit about.
Glass Flask
The colors in this glass flask are thanks to a manufacturing error. The body of the vessel has not formed properly during creation and has subsequently been flattened and discarded. The Phoenicians blew glass from around the 1st Century AD, the method revolutionizing glass making which had previously relied on various mounding type methods. Once the blowing method was discovered, shapes and production increased. The Phoenician coastal cities around the Eastern Mediterranean became famous for glass production.
Stone Anchor
This stone anchor was found in Byblos with around thirty others and serves a purely symbolic function. The anchors were placed in temples as offerings to ensure the safety of sailors. This particular anchor was unique as it has engraved hieroglyphic characters reading ‘NFR’, translated as ‘perfect, good, beautiful and diverse’.
Steele of Pharaoh Ramses II
This basalt Steele depicts Ramses II slaughtering enemies of Egypt before the god of war. While rather brutal a scene the detail is quite fantastic. It looks like it could have broken off at the bottom and the mind boggles as to what the rest of the story might be if this is, in fact, the case.
Bronze Incense Burners
These items are liturgical incense burners. They are variously decorated with scenes of Christ’s life or from the New Testament. They were found carefully hidden in a jar and buried, discovered in Marjhine in the Bekaa plain.
Terracotta Crater
This crater (urn like terracotta jar) was discovered in Khaldeh, a village south of Beirut. It is an example of a typical Cypriot vessel with the pedestal and two handles on the shoulder. This particular piece is more than 30cm high and has a lovely bird motif, probably a duck, which was painted in black and red.
Funerary Jar
This funerary jar contains a complete adult skeleton. It was found with smaller terracotta pots placed with the body, tucked up on its side with hands between the knees. This funerary practice was developed in Byblos during the Chalcolithic period and thousands of pots have been found in the area just like this one.
Tomb of Tyre
The frescoes from the Tomb of Tyre (Burj el Chemail, Roman Period), is incredible not just for the frescoes that are so wonderfully preserved but for the fact that the whole tomb has been transported and reconstructed here. The tomb was discovered in 1937 in 1939 the walls were removed and reassembled in the National Museum of Beirut although a more recent restoration (circa 2010) has since been undertaken due to degradation during the time the museum was closed (1975 – 1995).
The scenes themselves are from Greek mythology but it’s more the fact that the whole room can be viewed intact that is the surprise and inspiration. No mention is made as to who the tomb originally belonged to and where they might be now.
Polycandelon
This polycandelon or ‘multiple lamps’ would generally be found hanging from the ceiling by long chains, preferably from a church choir. It has gold inlays, features twelve crosses on the inside and has twelve rings which would have held small glass chalices of blessed oil.
Good To Know
See the other posts in the National Museum of Beirut series:
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. This is 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 the Beirut National Museum is a relatively small museum but it has a rich history. It’s delight is not only in the exhibits but in the building and the story. Don’t miss the introductory video, it had me in tears!
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