As you’re walking outside the National Museum of Beirut, the Roman columns across the street with a tomb will stand out. The Lebanese Army Martyrs Monument has been dedicated as a square to the martyrs who died for the Lebanese Independence from the French Mandate in 1943.

This square has been there fenced since 1945, meaning two years after the Lebanese Independence. However, these Roman columns standing up as glorious as they look were not found at this location but were rescued from a basilica site about 36 meters south of the Mosque al-Omari in Downtown Beirut, and rebuilt in front of the National Museum of Beirut, as mentioned in the book “Beirut Through the Ages” by Nina Jidejian.

The tomb in front of the columns is called “The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier”, as it is a mural for the persons killed fighting for a free Lebanon years ago. Also, engraved on the stone in Arabic, as translated to English here: “Glory and eternity to our martyrs the heroes” with gold colors, and the Lebanese cedar in the middle. While two olive trees are planted on either side of the tomb, symbolizing resistance and peace.

This square is accessible to the public all the time, and I truly advise people interested in archeology to visit it!