The Mosaics of the Madaba Plateau of Jordan

The beautiful "Swan" Mosaic in the Mosaic Museum in MadabaMost of the mosaics of Transjordan date from between the 1st century and the eighth century AD. Mosaics were used in many buildings to decorate walls, floors or ceilings, employing motifs mostly from everyday life : harvesting, hunting, fishing or just pastoral or mythological themes. Church mosaics often depicted stories from the Bible.

Sadly, with the decree of the Emperor Leo in AD726, forbidding the use of people and animals in "images" ("God is the only creator") most of these mosaics were badly defaced. Those which survive today more or less intact, are almost always the mosaics which had been hidden by a later mosaic built above them. Otherwise all too often we see a mosaic with pastoral scenes or vignettes, but with the people hammered out. This is just as frustrating as you might imagine: a beautiful scene, and a big hole in the middle

In Madaba the best known mosaic is the In Madaba the best known mosaic is the map of the Holy Land to be seen in the map of the Holy Land to be seen in the Church of St GeorgeChurch of St George. . The great majority of The great majority of visitors stop here for half an hour or so and visitors stop here for half an hour or so and nowhere else in Madaba, which is a pitynowhere else in Madaba, which is a pity. . The The central part of the map focuses on the City central part of the map focuses on the City of Jerusalemof Jerusalem..

The mosaic Map of Madaba was discovered The mosaic Map of Madaba was discovered in 1896 and was immediately recognised as in 1896 and was immediately recognised as an outstanding discoveryan outstanding discovery. . It was published a It was published a year lateryear later. . This discovery drew upon the city This discovery drew upon the city the attention of scholars worldwidethe attention of scholars worldwide. . It also It also positively influenced the inhabitants who positively influenced the inhabitants who shared the contagious passion of Brother shared the contagious passion of Brother Giuseppe Manfredi to whose efforts we owe Giuseppe Manfredi to whose efforts we owe the discovery of most of the mosaics in the the discovery of most of the mosaics in the citycity

This decree applied chiefly to churches, and the majority of the This decree applied chiefly to churches, and the majority of the mosaics we can see today were found in Byzantine churchesmosaics we can see today were found in Byzantine churches. . Archaeologists digging in the ruins of churches in Jordan are Archaeologists digging in the ruins of churches in Jordan are accustomed to finding thousands of multicoloured glass tiles, which accustomed to finding thousands of multicoloured glass tiles, which shows the extent of the mosaic decorations of the periodshows the extent of the mosaic decorations of the period. . Ceilings Ceilings and floors covered in brightly coloured pictures and floors covered in brightly coloured pictures - - they must have they must have been beautifulbeen beautiful

What you see there today is just a What you see there today is just a remnant remnant of the original mosaic which of the original mosaic which measured over 16m long by 6m measured over 16m long by 6m wide and which depicted most of wide and which depicted most of the present day Near East from the present day Near East from Lebanon to the Nile Delta and from Lebanon to the Nile Delta and from the Mediterranean to the eastern the Mediterranean to the eastern desert of Jordandesert of Jordan. . It dates from the It dates from the sixth century and besides sixth century and besides decorating the church was decorating the church was probably intended to help pilgrims probably intended to help pilgrims making their way from one holy making their way from one holy site to anothersite to another. . St George's Church St George's Church is, of course, a modern church, and is, of course, a modern church, and the original Byzantine building was the original Byzantine building was much largermuch larger. . This mosaic must This mosaic must have taken years to makehave taken years to make..

It is most interesting that following It is most interesting that following the depiction on this map of the the depiction on this map of the ""Baptism Site of ChristBaptism Site of Christ" " excavations were undertaken and excavations were undertaken and the site of Bethany was uncovered, the site of Bethany was uncovered, exactly on the site shown on the exactly on the site shown on the mapmap!!

Here you can see a detailHere you can see a detail of the of the River Jordan, withRiver Jordan, with what is what is possibly a bridge or at possibly a bridge or at least least a crossing point a crossing point between the two banksbetween the two banks. . A A detail often remarked on is detail often remarked on is the fish, which arriving the fish, which arriving close to the Dead Sea turn close to the Dead Sea turn and swim back again and swim back again - - no no fish are shown swimming fish are shown swimming in the Dead Sea which at in the Dead Sea which at that time was just as salty that time was just as salty and unsuitable for fish as it and unsuitable for fish as it is todayis today..

Notice too that just north Notice too that just north of the bridge, the of the bridge, the ((presumablypresumably) ) hunters have hunters have been erased by the been erased by the iconoclastsiconoclasts. . No attempt No attempt has been made to restore has been made to restore them, since we have no them, since we have no idea what they actually idea what they actually looked likelooked like. . A mixture of A mixture of mosaic tiles has been put mosaic tiles has been put in placein place

Madaba is one of the oldest Madaba is one of the oldest towns towns still existing that was still existing that was mentioned in the Bible mentioned in the Bible ((Joshua Joshua 13 v913 v9) ) as being part of the as being part of the territory parcelled out by territory parcelled out by Moses to the Reubenites and Moses to the Reubenites and the Gadites the Gadites : ": "From Aroer, that From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river and all the midst of the river and all the plain of Medeba unto the plain of Medeba unto DibonDibon". ". The land was taken The land was taken from the Moabites, as is said in from the Moabites, as is said in Numbers 21 v30 Numbers 21 v30 : ": "Heshbon is Heshbon is perished, even unto Dibon and perished, even unto Dibon and we have laid them waste even we have laid them waste even unto Nopha, which reacheth unto Nopha, which reacheth unto Medebaunto Medeba". ". This is indeed This is indeed going a very long way backgoing a very long way back..

Dibon, incidentally, also Dibon, incidentally, also still existsstill exists. . Under the name Under the name of Dhiban it is the last of Dhiban it is the last town before Wadi Mujib town before Wadi Mujib ((Nahal Arnon in HebrewNahal Arnon in Hebrew) ) when you go south on the when you go south on the Kings' HighwayKings' Highway. . There are There are numerous ruins and an numerous ruins and an important tell; it is here important tell; it is here that the Mesha Stele was that the Mesha Stele was found in 1868found in 1868. . The stele The stele recounts the rule of the recounts the rule of the ""King MeshaKing Mesha" " around around 850BC and is now in the 850BC and is now in the Louvre, but copies of it are Louvre, but copies of it are displayed in museums all displayed in museums all over Jordan, and you will over Jordan, and you will find many references to it find many references to it in histories of Jordanin histories of Jordan. . See See the webpagethe webpage    

Madaba was an important town Madaba was an important town at the beginning of the at the beginning of the Christian era, and had its own Christian era, and had its own bishopbishop. . Imposing churches Imposing churches were built there, including were built there, including the Cathedral, the Church of the Cathedral, the Church of the Apostles, the Church of the Apostles, the Church of the Virgin and the Church of the Virgin and the Church of St Elianos as well as St St Elianos as well as St George's George's ((the famous the famous ""Church Church of the Mapof the Map"). "). All of these All of these churches were copiously churches were copiously decorated with mosaics, the decorated with mosaics, the finest dating from the sixth finest dating from the sixth and seventh centuries ADand seventh centuries AD. . Because of the iconoclasts, Because of the iconoclasts, few remain and many of few remain and many of those in poor conditionthose in poor condition. . However, a number of However, a number of mosaics have been moved to mosaics have been moved to Madaba to the Museum there Madaba to the Museum there from other sites on the from other sites on the Madaba Plateau Madaba Plateau : : the mosaic the mosaic from the baths of Herod's from the baths of Herod's citadel at Mukawir dates from citadel at Mukawir dates from the 1st century ADthe 1st century AD

The Church of the The Church of the Apostles in Madaba is Apostles in Madaba is a little bit away from a little bit away from

the Old Town and the the Old Town and the Mosaic Museum Mosaic Museum ((or or

Archaeological ParkArchaeological Park). ). A special shelter has A special shelter has been built to protect been built to protect the floor which has a the floor which has a

gorgeous mosaic in gorgeous mosaic in the centre, showing a the centre, showing a collection of collection of ""dancing dancing pigeonspigeons" " which I find which I find

very attractivevery attractive. . I I didn't see one couple didn't see one couple

of pigeons identical of pigeons identical to anotherto another . .

in the centre of the floor shows in the centre of the floor shows a personification of the Seaa personification of the Sea. . Notice the rudder held in the Notice the rudder held in the left handleft hand. . I am voluntarily I am voluntarily showing copies made at the showing copies made at the Mosaics School rather than the Mosaics School rather than the original which is both very original which is both very difficult to take in photo and difficult to take in photo and very very dusty as you can see very very dusty as you can see from the photo of the floor from the photo of the floor aboveabove. . The colours show here The colours show here much better and it is easier to much better and it is easier to appreciate the beauty of the appreciate the beauty of the workwork..

Mosaics, incidentally, could be Mosaics, incidentally, could be useful as well as ornamental. useful as well as ornamental. In the Archaeological Park you In the Archaeological Park you can see the mosaic shown can see the mosaic shown below at the entrance to one below at the entrance to one of the houses. It indicated that of the houses. It indicated that shoes should be removed! shoes should be removed! Note the outline of a sandal Note the outline of a sandal above the round bit, which you above the round bit, which you can see better on the larger can see better on the larger

scaled photoscaled photo. .

abandoned and its ruins were untouched forabandoned and its ruins were untouched for centuriescenturies. . At the end of the nineteenthAt the end of the nineteenth century, some Christian families in Kerakcentury, some Christian families in Kerak

decided to move away from there, followingdecided to move away from there, followingtrouble with their Moslem neighbourstrouble with their Moslem neighbours. . TheyThey

settled in Madaba, took over the lands andsettled in Madaba, took over the lands andbegan to cultivate them and to constructbegan to cultivate them and to constructtheir own houses and places of worshiptheir own houses and places of worship..

The Islamic authorities allowed them to doThe Islamic authorities allowed them to doso, but on condition that the Christianso, but on condition that the Christian

churches should only be built on the siteschurches should only be built on the sitespreviously occupied by the Byzantinepreviously occupied by the Byzantine

churcheschurches. . This led to a general explorationThis led to a general explorationof the town ruins, and the clearance of manyof the town ruins, and the clearance of many

buried churchesburied churches. . You will find manyYou will find many""modernmodern" " buildings on the ancient sites buildings on the ancient sites - - inin

Madaba do not judge the age of a house or any Madaba do not judge the age of a house or any building by its exteriorbuilding by its exterior

HippolytusHippolytus Hall was a rich Hall was a rich Byzantine mansion, and theByzantine mansion, and the mosaic found there in 1982 mosaic found there in 1982 beneath the present day beneath the present day Church of the Virgin is one of Church of the Virgin is one of the treasures of Madabathe treasures of Madaba

The mosaic depicts the The mosaic depicts the legend of legend of Phaedra and Phaedra and Hippolytus as Hippolytus as dramatized by dramatized by EuripidesEuripides. . On the right On the right Aphrodite is seated Aphrodite is seated beside Adonis, and is beside Adonis, and is threatening with her threatening with her slipper one of the slipper one of the Cupids presented to Cupids presented to her by the Three her by the Three GracesGraces. . On the left, a On the left, a servant is carrying a servant is carrying a basket of fruit and a basket of fruit and a dead partridgedead partridge. . One of One of the Cupids has his the Cupids has his head in a beehive, a head in a beehive, a reference to a love reference to a love poem by Theocritespoem by Theocrites..

The mosaic shown above dates The mosaic shown above dates from 597AD when the church was from 597AD when the church was rebuilt and greatly enlargedrebuilt and greatly enlarged. . Again Again the left and right hand photos are the left and right hand photos are details of the central onedetails of the central one. . Today it Today it is displayed on the wallis displayed on the wall..

The mosaic on the left was The mosaic on the left was discovered when the 597AD was discovered when the 597AD was removed for cleaningremoved for cleaning. . A perfectly A perfectly beautiful mosaic, dating from beautiful mosaic, dating from 531AD it shows four panels of 531AD it shows four panels of scenes of hunting and husbandryscenes of hunting and husbandry..

The animals are beautifully The animals are beautifully depicted, and notice depicted, and notice ((in the in the enlargementenlargement) ) the peasant sitting the peasant sitting under a tree while his charges under a tree while his charges grazegraze..

The animal at the bottom is a bit The animal at the bottom is a bit weird, something of a mixture of a weird, something of a mixture of a zebra and perhaps a giraffe? zebra and perhaps a giraffe? Presumably the artist had seenPresumably the artist had seen neitherneither..

Khirbet alKhirbet al--MukhayyatMukhayyatThis village just off the road from Madaba toThis village just off the road from Madaba to Mount Nebo is mostly Mount Nebo is mostly

neglected by tourists, but it contains one of the most beautiful mosaics neglected by tourists, but it contains one of the most beautiful mosaics discovered in Jordan, almost perfectly preserveddiscovered in Jordan, almost perfectly preserved. . A shelter has been built A shelter has been built to protect it in the ruins of the church of St Lot and St Procopiusto protect it in the ruins of the church of St Lot and St Procopius. . It is pity It is pity thatthat  no public transport goes to Khirbet al Mukhayyatno public transport goes to Khirbet al Mukhayyat..

Again I show two details of the complete mosaic and with them you can Again I show two details of the complete mosaic and with them you can better appreciate how impressive the mosaic isbetter appreciate how impressive the mosaic is..

Some other mosaics have been found there but are not on general displaySome other mosaics have been found there but are not on general display

The famous mosaic and its The famous mosaic and its place in the church before the place in the church before the shelter that you can see above shelter that you can see above was builtwas built. . On the right you can On the right you can see the mosaic that is see the mosaic that is reproduced in the panel belowreproduced in the panel below..

The major interest of the mosaic floor in the church of Saint The major interest of the mosaic floor in the church of Saint Stephen lies in the frame depicting cities of Palestine, of Stephen lies in the frame depicting cities of Palestine, of Jordan and of EgyptJordan and of Egypt. . In the north row can be identified In the north row can be identified : : Jerusalem, Neapolis Jerusalem, Neapolis ((NablusNablus) ) showing the church of the showing the church of the Theotokos on Mount Garizim, Sebastis Theotokos on Mount Garizim, Sebastis ((SebastiaSebastia)), Caesarea on , Caesarea on the sea, Diospolis the sea, Diospolis ((LiddaLidda)), Eleutheropolis , Eleutheropolis ((Beit GibrinBeit Gibrin)), Askalon , Askalon and Gazaand Gaza. . In the south row a series of seven Jordanian cities is In the south row a series of seven Jordanian cities is shown starting with the double plan of Kastron Mefaashown starting with the double plan of Kastron Mefaa--Umm erUmm er--Rasas, followed by Philadelphia Rasas, followed by Philadelphia ((AmmanAmman)), Madaba, Esbounta , Madaba, Esbounta ((HesbanHesban)), Belemounta , Belemounta ((Ma'inMa'in)), Areopolis , Areopolis ((RabbaRabba) ) and and CharachMouba CharachMouba ((elel--KerakKerak). ). Two additional Jordanian cities, Two additional Jordanian cities, Limbon and Diblaton are portrayed, one at the head of each Limbon and Diblaton are portrayed, one at the head of each aisle, associated with portraits of benefactors and inscriptionsaisle, associated with portraits of benefactors and inscriptions. . There is a mention of the monastery of Mount Nebo which gave There is a mention of the monastery of Mount Nebo which gave an offering for the churchan offering for the church. . The inner frame, which depicts a The inner frame, which depicts a river with fish, birds, and water flowers, as well as boats and river with fish, birds, and water flowers, as well as boats and boys fishing or hunting, also portrays a series of ten cities in boys fishing or hunting, also portrays a series of ten cities in the Nile Delta the Nile Delta : : Alexandria, Kasin, Thenesos, Tamiathis, Panau, Alexandria, Kasin, Thenesos, Tamiathis, Panau, Pilousin, Antinau, Eraklion, Kynopolis and PseudostomonPilousin, Antinau, Eraklion, Kynopolis and Pseudostomon..

The names of the The names of the ""sponsorssponsors" " of this mosaic are given, and of this mosaic are given, and seem to be semitic, probably localseem to be semitic, probably local

Here are some details from the central designHere are some details from the central design

Teacher:

-Sana’a Harahsha

-Nawal Zanouny

Student : Yara Al-harahsha