The Alexander sarcophagus (which represents Alexander, but is not “his” sarcophagus, that one was in Alexandria and has been lost) is the most important find in the museum, and beautiful. It’s from the late 4th century BC, from Sidon. It is supposed to have been the sarcophagus in which a Phoenician King, Abdalonymnos, was laid to rest.

On one long side a battle by Alexander is represented, fighting the Persians, maybe it is the Issus battle (333 BC). Alexander can be recognized in the far left, wearing a lions skin head, like Heracles wore after he killed the Nemean Lion.

This is Alexander in detail. Note the lion skin. Note also a ram’s horn, the symbol of the Egyptian god Amon.