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NATIONAL MUSEUM
The National Museum of Beirut is a must on every visitor's
itinerary as it contains priceless items of different
civilizations and examples of the earliest alphabetical
writings. The museum houses today collections from the
Prehistoric era, Bronze and Iron age, Hellenistic period,
Roman period, Byzantine period, and Arab conquest Mamluk
period. Visitors today can discover 1,300 archeological
artifacts spread over two floors. Priceless large stone
artifacts are confined to the ground floor which exhibits 75
large stone objects from sarcophagi, statues, mosaics,
stelae . . . The hall in the basement houses the large Ford
Collection of 27 anthropoid sarcophagi.
The museum's story goes back to the 1920's when a central
collection point was needed for archaeological finds. Work
on the handsome building, designed in a neo-pharaonic style,
was begun in 1930 and completed in 1937. When it opened in
May 1943 it displayed antiquities from excavations in
Beirut, Sidon, and Tyre. Further discoveries around the
country added more material and over the next three decades
the museum served as one of Lebanon's most important
cultural institutions.
When hostilities broke out in 1975 action was taken to
protect the priceless collections. Large objects such as
sarcophagi were covered in reinforced concrete. Other
antiquities were either removed for safekeeping or walled up
in the basement. Mosaics were protected with plastic and
layered with cement. Despite these precautions, the museum
building was badly damaged and much of its collection
suffered from neglect and salt water corrosion. Reopening of
the museum took place in 1997 and is now open to the public.
They have survived 6000 years of war, natural disasters and
the ravages of time.
The masterpiece of the museum, is the Sarcophagus of King
Ahiram of Byblos, discovered in the royal necropolis of
Byblos. It is characterized by the reliefs and inscription
decorating it. The Phoenician inscription dates back to the
10th century, which is to date the oldest known Phoenician
text ever discovered. The Phoenicians spread this alphabetic
script all over the Mediterranean which earned them the
reputation, among the Greeks of
having invented the alphabet. This inscription was meant to
shy away malediction and frighten tomb robbers. 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...
Traces of red paint also 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.
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