Bible Lands Museum
מוזיאון ארצות המקרא
An archaeology museum of the ancient Near East beside the Israel Museum, displaying artifacts from Bible-era Egyptian, Assyrian, Persian and other civilizations in chronological order.
The Bible Lands Museum sits in the Museum Quarter, across the street from the Israel Museum. It opened in 1992 and is built around the collection of collector Elie Borowski. The galleries follow a chronological order, presenting artifacts from the ancient Near East from prehistoric times through the Byzantine period: Egyptian wooden coffins and scarabs, Assyrian reliefs, Persian metalwork, cuneiform clay tablets and ancient seals, among others. They help visitors understand the historical background of the Bible, and there are fairly comprehensive guide materials in Chinese and English. It suits visitors interested in archaeology and religious history and can be paired with the Israel Museum on the same day. The museum is generally closed or open only briefly on Saturdays and closes early on Fridays, so check the official website before you go. You can take a bus to the Museum Quarter or a taxi.
Opening hours
Sun–Thu approx. 9:30 am–5:30 pm (extended Wed); closes early Fri; Sat per official website
Nearby sights
- Israel Museum
- Knesset
- Monastery of the Holy Cross
- L. A. Mayer Museum for Islamic Art
- Mahane Yehuda Market
- Ben Yehuda Street
- Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- Mount Herzl