A short drive from Amman, the town of Madaba is home to one of Jordan’s largest Christian communities and several impressive churches. Of these, the Greek Orthodox St. George’s Church is the most interesting. The church wasn’t built until the end of the 19th century, but during construction workers uncovered one of the most important surviving artistic relics of the Byzantine era: the Madaba Mosaic Map. Created by artisans in the 6th century, the mosaic was once an intricate map of Holy Land sites, covering modern-day Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian Territories, and Egypt’s Sinai. Only a quarter of the original work survives today, but even this fragment, which sits in the floor of the church, shows astounding detail. Look closely and you’ll see fish swimming in the Jordan River, the walls and gates of Jerusalem, Mount Sinai, and even the Nile Delta. There’s also an excellent exhibition next to the church to help you get the most out of your viewing.
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6th Century Mosaics
The floor of this Greek Orthodox church holds a 6th century AD mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. In this picture, the river allegedly depicts where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. We followed the visit to the church with a food-coma inducing alfresco lunch at Haret Jdoudna.
St George's Church
The town of Madaba, a short drive south of Amman is home to one of the country’s largest Christian communities, and has several impressive churches. Of these, the most interesting is the Greek Orthodox St George’s Church. The church was only built at the end of the 19th century, but during construction workers uncovered one of the most important surviving artistic relics of the Byzantine era – the Madaba Mosaic Map. Laid out by artisans in the 6th century, it was once an intricate map of holy land sites covering modern-day Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian Territories, plus Egypt’s Sinai. Today only a quarter survives on the floor of the church, but even this fragment shows astounding detail, covering Jerusalem, the Dead Sea area, and a small portion of the Sinai. Look for the fish swimming in the Jordan river, the walls and gates of Jerusalem, Mount Sinai and even the Nile delta. There is an excellent exhibition next to the church to help you get the best out of viewing the mosaic.
