Lebanon National Museum: Resilience and Memory Preservation After Civil War

The Museum as a Civil War Frontline

• 🎯 The Lebanon National Museum became a flash point on Beirut's front line during the civil war, which erupted 50 years ago.
• ⚔️ Militants used the museum as a barracks, taking cover behind ancient sarcophagi and firing through mosaics, leaving their marks on the building.
• 🧱 A new pavilion now preserves an outer wall damaged during the conflict, serving as a testament to the museum's and city's resilience.

Protecting the National Collection

• 🛡️ The museum's curator, Emmy Maraice Shihab, implemented a strategy to protect the national collection during the war.
• 📦 Large artifacts, like sarcophagi and mosaics, were protected by building reinforced concrete boxes around them.
• 🤫 A rumor was spread that artifacts were moved outside the museum to deter looting and ensure their safety.
• 🏠 Smaller pieces were transferred to warehouses for safekeeping.

Rediscovery and Restoration

• ⏳ Restoration work began in 1995, leading to the rediscovery of the museum and its artifacts.
• ⛏️ During the construction of the new pavilion amidst a later conflict, more buried pieces were found in the backyard, safeguarded by Shihab.
• 🕊️ The museum's new pavilion opened during Lebanon's latest conflict, symbolizing memory preservation in a region marked by ongoing strife.