ABSTRACT
The Archaeological Museum of the American University of Beirut, the third oldest museum in the Near East, was founded in 1868. It began with a donation of a Cypriot archaeological collection from General Cesnola, the American Consul in Cyprus. In its early days, the museum collected a wide range of artifacts from seven countries—Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Iraq, and Iran—making it a regional museum. They provide a complete overview of civilizations in the Near East, from the Early Stone Age through to the Islamic period. For 150 years, the AUB Archaeological Museum has played a central role in conveying the cultural heritage of the region to its visitors and students through teaching, research, publications, and various activities: lectures, gallery talks, exhibitions, and children’s programs. The AUB Museum, while charming for its time, had become in many ways outdated. A facelift had become a necessity. Hence, it underwent a total renovation, reopening it to the public in 2006. An extensive reorganization of the artifacts was introduced along two parallel concepts: a chronological presentation on the one hand and a thematic presentation on the other. Textual and illustrative information have played an essential role in the components of the story.
