Madaba

Greek Orthodox Church

of St. George

Jordan, though an Islamic nation, has a vibrant and well preserved Christian heritage.

The town of Madaba is still a Christian town, and within its churches are some superb mosaics, the most famous of which are housed in the contemporary Greek Orthodox Church of St. George and depict the Holy Land.

This is a wonderfully vivid 6th Century mosaic map, comprising two million pieces of colored stones showing the entire region from Jordan, Palestine in the north, and Egypt in the south.

 This map includes a fascinating plan of Jerusalem: on the left is the north gate from which two colonnaded streets run south.

On the straight street through the heart of the city stands the domed Holy Sepulchre. Clearly inscribed above the north and east gates is the legend "Holy City of Jerusalem".

It is fun to spend a while picking out the various locations and admiring the little vignettes the artist incorporated into the map.

Other mosaic masterpieces found in the Church of the Virgin and the Apostles and in Madaba's Archaeological Museum, depict a rampant profusion of flowers and plants, birds and fish, animals and exotic beasts. 

As well as scenes from mythology and everyday pursuits of hunting, fishing, and farming.

Literally, hundreds of mosaics from the 5th through the 7th centuries are scattered throughout Madaba's churches and homes.