Baby Boys in the National Museum of Beirut

I shot these marble statues of baby boys in the National Museum of Beirut (Arabic: متحف بيروت الوطنيّ‎), the largest archeological museum in Lebanon. The marble statues date back to 5th century BC and were excavated on the site of the Eshmun Temple near the city of Sidon (Saida) in South Lebanon. The temple was dedicated to Eshmun, the Phoenician god of healing.

Statue of a boy holding a small object. National Museum of Beirut, Lebanon.

The most important sculpture is of a royal child who is holding a dove with his right hand. The boy's head is shaved, his torso is naked and his lower body is covered with a cloth.

The sculptures have been intentionally damaged, as a sacrifice of the sick child to god Eshmun.

Marble sculpture of a boy with a broken hand from the Eshmun Temple. National Museum of Beirut, Lebanon.