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Amman proudly stands the "City of Mosaics", Madaba. Madaba is perched on an
archaeological tel with more than 4000 years of history buried beneath it. The quality and
quantity of mosaic flooring has made Madaba one of the most prominent cities in the world
for mosaics. St. George's Church houses the world famous mosaic floor depicting a large
mosaic map of Palestine. Centrally located on this mosaic floor is a detailed map of
Jerusalem as it was during the sixth century AD. At the Church of the Apostles, at the
southern entrance of the city, is a mosaic floor attributed to the craftsman Salamanios,
depicting the Sea, with the central figure of a woman encircled with a selection of
creatures, vegetation and an inscription. |
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It was there, on
Mount Nebo, that Moses stood forbidden by God to enter the Promised Land. And where he
lived out his days and finally interred. At the cusp of Mount Nebo, looking out towards
the ‘Promised Land’, rises a snake made of iron, curled around a cross. It
represents the bronze serpent taken up by Moses when he was in the desert, as well as
signifying the Cross on which Jesus was crucified.
At Syagha, a monastery was constructed on the foundations of the early chapel. Some of
Jordan’s most magnificent Byzantine mosaic work is housed within the monastery’s
walls. |
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On the top of
Mount Nebo, also called "Siyagha", there are the main ruins of a church and a
monastery.
The floors are decorated by mosaic. It is believed that Prophet Moses was burried on this
Mount. This is part of the mosaic in Mount Nebo. |
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In Madaba, the
floor of the Church of the Apostles is adorned with beautiful mosaic drawings. The most
significant section of the main floor is the medallion which is known as the
Personification of the Sea. It depicts a woman emerging from the sea, half-clad, raising
what is thought to be a rudder in line with her head.
The Sea, concealing her left breast suggests that the figure is part of the swirling
water. A Tourist Office is just across the Church of St. George. There is a museum that
has Jordan’s oldest known mosaic floor, that comes from the Herodian fortress of
Machaerus. |
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Mentioned in the
New Testament as the palace in which Salome danced in exchange for the head of John the
Baptist on a platter.
The royal fortress lies on top of the steep hill is that of Herod the Great. Herod’s
dispute with John the Baptist began and ended at Mukawir fortress. Mukawir lies 2,295 feet
overlooking the Dead Sea. It is protected on three sides by deep ravines. |
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