On the Way to Madaba

Page - 62
(A)

"On the Way to Madaba"

Near The Northern End of The Dead Sea,

Jordan

Friday, ‎December ‎27, ‎2013

Seventh Day of my Holy Land Trip, Mount Zion, Jerusalem

My Holy Land Trip

"On the Way to Madaba"

Madaba, Jordan


A view of Jordan landscape on the way from Mount Nebo, Jordan:

Just 30km from Amman, along the 5,000-year-old Kings´ Highway, is one of the most memorable places in the Holy Land. After passing through a string of ancient sites, the first city you reach is Madaba, known as the “City of Mosaics."

Best known for its spectacular Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, Madaba is home to the famous 6th century Mosaic Map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. With two million pieces of vividly coloured local stone, it depicts hills and valleys, villages and towns as far as the Nile Delta.

A camel family, view on the way to Madaba from Mount Nebo, Jordan:

The Madaba Mosaic Map covers the floor of the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, which is located northwest of the city centre. The church was built in 1896 AD, over the remains of a much earlier 6th century Byzantine church. The mosaic panel enclosing the Map was originally around 15.6 X 6m, 94 sq.m., only about a quarter of which is preserved. 

A camel family, view on the way to Madaba from Mount Nebo, Jordan:

Other mosaic masterpieces found in the Church of the Virgin and the Apostles and in the Archaeological Museum depict a rampant profusion of flowers and plants, birds and fish, animals and exotic beasts, as well as scenes from mythology and the everyday pursuits of hunting, fishing and farming. Literally, hundreds of other mosaics from the 5th through the 7th centuries are scattered throughout Madaba's churches and homes.

A view of Jordan landscape on the way from Mount Nebo, Jordan:

In line with Jordan's commitment to restoring and preserving its mosaic masterpieces, Madaba’s extensive Archaeological Park and Museum complex encompasses the remains of several Byzantine churches, including the outstanding mosaics of the Church of the Virgin and the Hyppolytus Hall, part of a 6th century mansion.

La Storea Museum Complex, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Jordan:

The idea behind the museum is to tell you the story of the land, from the Old Testament through to the era of the New Testament. It's arranged in a big circle, where you walk through a winding path to see the exhibits, which are all sculptures with 3D backgrounds behind them. It starts with Noah's Ark, where you see a huge boat with the animals. Then, you get to other parts of the Old Testament, like the destruction of Babylon and where Moses split the Red Sea. Then, the religious era - where Jesus was born, baptized and the last supper. Next is Petra, as well as a glimpse of the traditional uniforms of the area's different tribes. After that, the Islamic era is represented, and then the history of Jordan itself. 

Largest Mosaic Portrait, Three million mosaic stone portrait of the Kings Way  at La Storea Museum Complex, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Jordan:

From this point on, all of the sculptures are motorized. This part takes you into a different era; basically, it shows you what the Bedouin life was like. Then, the Great Arab Revolt is represented, and after that, the Hashemite section, which shows the army, its different rankings and the tools and weapons they used in that time. Once you finish the historical part, you transition into a big traditional village. It's modeled to actually feel like a real village. You walk through it and see moving sculptures of all of the people doing the jobs of the old days such as pottery making , the barber, the blacksmith, everything.

Largest Mosaic Portrait, Three million mosaic stone portrait of the Kings Way at La Storea Museum Complex, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Jordan:

You walk through the narrow streets and the village's alleyways and you live the life of Bilad al Sham. Everything is motorized, so you can walk into a cafe and find people smoking hookah and listening to music. You walk in the mosque and see children reading the Quran. There are glassblowers, someone baking, someone making rugs and carpets; all of these sculptures of people are life-sized. You move through a scene that is two or three stories high, with more people out above you on balconies. You are walking into the village as if they are living there now, with all the fine details.

Largest Mosaic Portrait, Three million mosaic stone portrait of the Kings Way at La Storea Museum Complex, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Jordan:

Located just 86km south of Amman, Madaba has been inhabited for at least 4,500 years, and is mentioned in the Bible as the Moabite town of Medeba (Numbers 21:30). After several centuries of Moabite and Nabataean rule, Medeba and the surrounding lands became part of the Roman Province of Arabia with the Emperor Trajan’s conquest of the Nabataean Kingdom in 106 AD

Prophet Noah’s Ark, La Storea Museum Complex, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Jordan:

During the 1^st century AD, Christianity spread rapidly through the Roman province of Arabia, but the Romans persecuted believers. Several martyrs died for their beliefs in Madaba, under the orders of Emperor Diocletian. In the 4^th century, the emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, which then became the dominant religion of the Roman Empire.

Prophet Noah’s Ark, La Storea Museum Complex, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Jordan:

During the Byzantine era from the 5^th century onwards, Madaba had its own bishop, and numerous churches were constructed from the 6^th to the 7^thcentury. Mosaic floors were the hallmark of this era and continued to be made in Madaba until the 8^th century. In 749 AD, a devastating earthquake leveled the city and it was abandoned. In 1897, three Christian families, consisting of a group of 2,000 people, migrated to Madaba from the ancient crusader town of Karak. After that event, the city became predominantly Christian. Numerous mosaics were discovered when new housing and churches were built to provide for the new immigrants.

Mesha Stele, La Storea Museum Complex, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Jordan:

Mesha Stele, La Storea Museum Complex, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Jordan:

Prophet Moses, La Storea Museum Complex, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Jordan:

Handicarfts Center, La Storea Museum Complex, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Jordan:

Handicarfts Center, La Storea Museum Complex, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Jordan:

Handicarfts Center, La Storea Museum Complex, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Jordan:

Handicarfts Center, La Storea Museum Complex, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Jordan:

The famous Kings Highway, Jordan:

Castle Karak, Jordan:

Castle Karak is the base of the Crusaders security along the eastern side of the Dead Sea. It was one of several fortresses that made a line protecting the occupation routes up to Jerusalem. The castles stretched from Turkey all the way to Aquba at the top of the Red Sea.  Although many castles were built by the Crusaders to protect these routes, Karak became one of the most famous, as it was the site of many battles between the Muslim armies and Crusaders.  Karak castle was built high on a hill with a view for miles in all direction to monitor any movement in the area.  

Castle Karak, Jordan:

Crusaders defended the castle through numerous sieges before it finally fell to the Muslim Armies of Salah ad-Din after an 8 month siege near the end of the Crusades.  The castle was of such strategic importance to both sides that during an attempted peace treaty in which the Crusaders were offered the return to holy city of Jerusalem (and other cities), the Crusaders refused the offer unless Caslte Karak was also returned to their control.  The negotiations fell apart from there, followed by several more years of war.

Castle Karak, Jordan:

antonykanappilly@hotmail.com