Beirut National Museum
Sarcophagus of King Ahiram with a phoenician inscription, limestone
Byblos, royal tombs, 10 century B.C.
Masterpiece of the National Museum, this sarcophagus is characterized by the reliefs and inscription decorating it. Traces of red paint can still be seen. On the long sides of the coffin, a funerary banquet scene is depicted showing the king seated on his throne receiving offerings from a long procession of people. On the narrow sides, women wailing in sign of mourning are represented.
The inscription starts on the coffin tub and continues on the cover:
Coffin which Itthobaal son of Ahiram, king of Byblos, made for Ahiram his father, when he placed him for eternity. Now, if a king among kings, or a governor among governors or a commander of an army should come up against Byblos and uncover this coffin, may the sceptre of his rule be torn away, may the throne of his kingdom be overturned and may peace flee from Byblos. And as for him, may his inscription be effaced...
It is the oldest text written with the Phoenician alphabet. The Phoenicians spread this alphabetic script all over the Mediterranean which earned them the reputation, among the Greeks, of having invented the alphabet.
Sarcophagus of King Ahiram with a phoenician inscription, limestone
Byblos, royal tombs, 10 century B.C.
Masterpiece of the National Museum, this sarcophagus is characterized by the reliefs and inscription decorating it. Traces of red paint can still be seen. On the long sides of the coffin, a funerary banquet scene is depicted showing the king seated on his throne receiving offerings from a long procession of people. On the narrow sides, women wailing in sign of mourning are represented.
The inscription starts on the coffin tub and continues on the cover:
Coffin which Itthobaal son of Ahiram, king of Byblos, made for Ahiram his father, when he placed him for eternity. Now, if a king among kings, or a governor among governors or a commander of an army should come up against Byblos and uncover this coffin, may the sceptre of his rule be torn away, may the throne of his kingdom be overturned and may peace flee from Byblos. And as for him, may his inscription be effaced...
It is the oldest text written with the Phoenician alphabet. The Phoenicians spread this alphabetic script all over the Mediterranean which earned them the reputation, among the Greeks, of having invented the alphabet.
Beirut National Museum
Sarcophagus with the legend of Achilleus, marble
Tyre, 2nd c. A.D.
Scenes from the Iliad representing episods of the Trojan war were often used to adorn the sarcophagi of the Roman necropolis of Tyre. Of excellent workmanship, this relief is in the tradition of classical Greek art.
Sarcophagus with the legend of Achilleus, marble
Tyre, 2nd c. A.D.
Scenes from the Iliad representing episods of the Trojan war were often used to adorn the sarcophagi of the Roman necropolis of Tyre. Of excellent workmanship, this relief is in the tradition of classical Greek art.
Beirut National Museum
Sarcophagus with the legend of Achilleus, marble
Tyre, 2nd c. A.D.
Scenes from the Iliad representing episods of the Trojan war were often used to adorn the sarcophagi of the Roman necropolis of Tyre. Of excellent workmanship, this relief is in the tradition of classical Greek art.
Sarcophagus with the legend of Achilleus, marble
Tyre, 2nd c. A.D.
Scenes from the Iliad representing episods of the Trojan war were often used to adorn the sarcophagi of the Roman necropolis of Tyre. Of excellent workmanship, this relief is in the tradition of classical Greek art.
Beirut National Museum
Sarcophagus with the legend of Achilleus, marble
Tyre, 2nd c. A.D.
Scenes from the Iliad representing episods of the Trojan war were often used to adorn the sarcophagi of the Roman necropolis of Tyre. Of excellent workmanship, this relief is in the tradition of classical Greek art.
Sarcophagus with the legend of Achilleus, marble
Tyre, 2nd c. A.D.
Scenes from the Iliad representing episods of the Trojan war were often used to adorn the sarcophagi of the Roman necropolis of Tyre. Of excellent workmanship, this relief is in the tradition of classical Greek art.
Beirut National Museum
Sarcophagus with the legend of Achilleus, marble
Tyre, 2nd c. A.D.
Scenes from the Iliad representing episods of the Trojan war were often used to adorn the sarcophagi of the Roman necropolis of Tyre. Of excellent workmanship, this relief is in the tradition of classical Greek art.
Sarcophagus with the legend of Achilleus, marble
Tyre, 2nd c. A.D.
Scenes from the Iliad representing episods of the Trojan war were often used to adorn the sarcophagi of the Roman necropolis of Tyre. Of excellent workmanship, this relief is in the tradition of classical Greek art.
Beirut National Museum
Sarcophagus with the legend of Achilleus, marble
Tyre, 2nd c. A.D.
Scenes from the Iliad representing episods of the Trojan war were often used to adorn the sarcophagi of the Roman necropolis of Tyre. Of excellent workmanship, this relief is in the tradition of classical Greek art.
Sarcophagus with the legend of Achilleus, marble
Tyre, 2nd c. A.D.
Scenes from the Iliad representing episods of the Trojan war were often used to adorn the sarcophagi of the Roman necropolis of Tyre. Of excellent workmanship, this relief is in the tradition of classical Greek art.
Beirut National Museum
Sarcophagus with the legend of Achilleus, marble
Tyre, 2nd c. A.D.
Scenes from the Iliad representing episods of the Trojan war were often used to adorn the sarcophagi of the Roman necropolis of Tyre. Of excellent workmanship, this relief is in the tradition of classical Greek art.
Sarcophagus with the legend of Achilleus, marble
Tyre, 2nd c. A.D.
Scenes from the Iliad representing episods of the Trojan war were often used to adorn the sarcophagi of the Roman necropolis of Tyre. Of excellent workmanship, this relief is in the tradition of classical Greek art.
Beirut National Museum
Sarcophagus with the legend of Achilleus, marble
Tyre, 2nd c. A.D.
Scenes from the Iliad representing episods of the Trojan war were often used to adorn the sarcophagi of the Roman necropolis of Tyre. Of excellent workmanship, this relief is in the tradition of classical Greek art.
Sarcophagus with the legend of Achilleus, marble
Tyre, 2nd c. A.D.
Scenes from the Iliad representing episods of the Trojan war were often used to adorn the sarcophagi of the Roman necropolis of Tyre. Of excellent workmanship, this relief is in the tradition of classical Greek art.
Beirut National Museum
Hygeia health goddess, marble
Byblos, Roman Period
This statue stood in one of the niches of the Nympheum (public fountain) of Byblos. The snake around Hygeia's shoulders symbolizes the healing virtues which are inherent to her status as health goddess.
Hygeia health goddess, marble
Byblos, Roman Period
This statue stood in one of the niches of the Nympheum (public fountain) of Byblos. The snake around Hygeia's shoulders symbolizes the healing virtues which are inherent to her status as health goddess.
Beirut National Museum
Hygeia health goddess, marble
Byblos, Roman Period
This statue stood in one of the niches of the Nympheum (public fountain) of Byblos. The snake around Hygeia's shoulders symbolizes the healing virtues which are inherent to her status as health goddess.
Hygeia health goddess, marble
Byblos, Roman Period
This statue stood in one of the niches of the Nympheum (public fountain) of Byblos. The snake around Hygeia's shoulders symbolizes the healing virtues which are inherent to her status as health goddess.
Beirut National Museum
Hygeia health goddess, marble
Byblos, Roman Period
This statue stood in one of the niches of the Nympheum (public fountain) of Byblos. The snake around Hygeia's shoulders symbolizes the healing virtues which are inherent to her status as health goddess.
Hygeia health goddess, marble
Byblos, Roman Period
This statue stood in one of the niches of the Nympheum (public fountain) of Byblos. The snake around Hygeia's shoulders symbolizes the healing virtues which are inherent to her status as health goddess.
Beirut National Museum
Beirut National Museum
Beirut National Museum
Beirut National Museum
Beirut National Museum
Beirut National Museum
Beirut National Museum
Anthropoïd sarcophagus, marble
Ayn el Helwe (near Sidon), 5th century B.C.
This anthropoïd sarcophagus which developped from the Egyptian mummy case, has a head sculptured in the Greek style on its cover. It belongs to the Ford Collection which was discovered in 1901 in Sidon.
Anthropoïd sarcophagus, marble
Ayn el Helwe (near Sidon), 5th century B.C.
This anthropoïd sarcophagus which developped from the Egyptian mummy case, has a head sculptured in the Greek style on its cover. It belongs to the Ford Collection which was discovered in 1901 in Sidon.
Beirut National Museum
Beirut National Museum
Beirut National Museum
Beirut National Museum
Dionysius, marble
Tyre, Roman Period
The god Dionysius is represented here as the young beardless Hellenic god with horns in his hair in reference to the ram or the bull, both his animal symbols. This representation of the horns to symbolize the animal will give birth to the horned Dionysus type
Dionysius, marble
Tyre, Roman Period
The god Dionysius is represented here as the young beardless Hellenic god with horns in his hair in reference to the ram or the bull, both his animal symbols. This representation of the horns to symbolize the animal will give birth to the horned Dionysus type
Beirut National Museum
Beirut National Museum
Beirut National Museum
Beirut National Museum
The "Jealousy" Mosaïc with a Greek Inscription
Beirut, Byzantine Period
This mosaïc decorated the entrance of a rich house located at the heart of Byzantine Beirut. The purpose of the inscription,Envy is an evil; it has beauty however/ it eats out the eyes and the heart of the envious, was to protect the inhabitants against envy and evil.
The "Jealousy" Mosaïc with a Greek Inscription
Beirut, Byzantine Period
This mosaïc decorated the entrance of a rich house located at the heart of Byzantine Beirut. The purpose of the inscription,Envy is an evil; it has beauty however/ it eats out the eyes and the heart of the envious, was to protect the inhabitants against envy and evil.
Beirut National Museum
Beirut National Museum
Beirut National Museum
Beirut National Museum
Beirut National Museum
Beirut National Museum
Statuette, gilded bronze
Byblos, Middle Bronze Age
This figurine belongs to a group of offerings which were found under the Obelisk Temple in Byblos. These are usually male and nude figurines wearing a helmet or a conical headdress which resembles the Egyptian crown. This betrays close relationship between Egypt and Byblos.
Statuette, gilded bronze
Byblos, Middle Bronze Age
This figurine belongs to a group of offerings which were found under the Obelisk Temple in Byblos. These are usually male and nude figurines wearing a helmet or a conical headdress which resembles the Egyptian crown. This betrays close relationship between Egypt and Byblos.
Beirut National Museum
Statuette, gilded bronze
Byblos, Middle Bronze Age
This figurine belongs to a group of offerings which were found under the Obelisk Temple in Byblos. These are usually male and nude figurines wearing a helmet or a conical headdress which resembles the Egyptian crown. This betrays close relationship between Egypt and Byblos.
Statuette, gilded bronze
Byblos, Middle Bronze Age
This figurine belongs to a group of offerings which were found under the Obelisk Temple in Byblos. These are usually male and nude figurines wearing a helmet or a conical headdress which resembles the Egyptian crown. This betrays close relationship between Egypt and Byblos.
Beirut National Museum
