Sights in Madaba
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St George's Church & Mosaic Map
It’s easy to understand why this rather modest 19th-century Greek Orthodox church has such a magnetic attraction. Imagine the excitement in 1884 when Christian builders came across the remnants of an old Byzantine church on the site of their new construction. Among the rubble, having survived wilful destruction, fire and neglect, the mosaic they discovered wasn’t just another mosaic, it was one with extraordinary significance: to this day, it represents the oldest map of Palestine in existence and provides many historical insights into the region.
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Greek Orthodox Church
This 19th-century Greek Orthodox church was built over a Byzantine church.
Unearthed in 1884, the mosaic on the church floor was a clear map with 157 captions (in Greek) depicting all the major biblical sites of the Middle East. The mosaic was constructed in AD 560, and was originally around 25m long (some experts claim 15m is more accurate) and 6m wide. It once contained more than two million pieces but only one-third of the original mosaic has survived.
The map itself, while of enormous historical significance, can be difficult to take in with all its fragments. It's definitely worth seeing, but you need to take your time to get the map's bearing. A room across from the …
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Madaba Institute for Mosaic Art & Restoration (MIMAR)
Originally set up as a school in 1992 by the Jordanian Government, MIMAR has recently been upgraded to an institute. Its primary aims are to train Jordanian artists in the production and restoration of mosaics, spread awareness of mosaics in Jordan and actively preserve mosaics throughout the country. The restoration work of the school’s artisans is evident in the Archaeological Park, the Church of the Apostles and at Khirbet Mukhayyat. The institute consists of a workshop, which includes a partial reproduction of the mosaic map in St George’s Church; it is displayed on the wall, making it easier to photograph. This is an active school so all visitors should first visi…
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Burnt Palace & Martyrs Church
The Burnt Palace was a late-6th-century luxury private mansion destroyed by fire and earthquake around AD 749. It contains more mosaics and there are walkways throughout for viewing the site. The east wing (down the steps to the left as you enter) contains some good hunting mosaics, while the west wing's highlight is the image of a lion attacking a bull. A fragment of a four seasons mosaic is all that remains of the north wing.
On the site is the continuation of the ancient Roman road, which once connected with the road in the Archaeological Park, as well as the 6th-century Martyrs Church, which was destroyed in the 8th century. The site requires more imagination than the…
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Madaba Museum
The Madaba Museum is housed in several old Madaba residences. Some highlights of the museum include a 6th-century mosaic depicting a naked satyr, a saucy (and partially damaged) mosaic of Ariadne, dancing with cymbals on her hands and feet, and a mosaic in the courtyard depicting two rams tied to a tree – a popular image recalling Abraham’s sacrifice. Spare a few minutes in the Folklore Museum, also housed here and included in the admission price. It features jewellery, traditional costumes and a copy of the Mesha Stele. There have long been plans to move the museum to the Saray, but nothing has come of this yet. It may explain, however, why the museum is rather …
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Church of the Apostles
The Church of the Apostles contains a remarkable mosaic dedicated to the 12 apostles, although it can be difficult to see clearly. The embroidery-like mosaic was created in AD 568 and is one of the few instances where the mosaicist (Salomios) put his name to his work. The central portion shows Thalassa, a woman who represents the sea, surrounded by fish and some slippery marine creatures (check out the comical little octopus).
In the same mosaic are representations of less threatening native animals, birds, flowers and fruits, and cherubic faces in the corners.
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F
Tell Madaba
This important archaeological site in the heart of Madaba is still under excavation and there's not much to see. Like many sites around Madaba, it was discovered by accident by a local when he started digging the foundations for his house. It contains remains of a Byzantine villa and parts of an Iron Age wall or fortification, the largest of its kind in Jordan and visible from above the arch on the top level.
To get the most from this site you'll need a trained eye. Tread carefully as much remains to be excavated.
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Burnt Palace
The Burnt Palace was a late-6th-century luxury private mansion destroyed by fire and earthquake around AD 749. Walkways lead around the ruins for viewing the assorted mosaics, the best of which are the hunting sequences in the east wing, and the lion attacking a bull in the west wing.
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G
Archaeological Park
Some careful restoration and excavation in the early 1990s led to the creation of the Archaeological Park, a collection of ruins and mosaics from the Madaba area.
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