the mosaics of the Church of St George and other Madaba, Jordan Things to Do Tips

Just across the road from my hotel is this church with its famed mosaic map of the Holy Lands - unfortunately it was damaged during various renovations to the churches that have stood on this site since its origins.

I was rather excited to see along with the representations of Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Jericho with the River Jordan there was also Kerak castle up on its hill here!

Down stairs there were some religious paintings, 'icons', allegedly from as far back as the 6th century but I didnt really believe that - nor impressed by stuff that portrays Mary as the Mother of God or the Queen of heaven - higher than Jesus Christ who was actually here on earth to also save his mother Mary - and biblically 'In the beginning was God...' but anyway there was an interesting picture of St George on his horse apparently from the 13th century and a very old looking embroidery one of the rare objects protected by being enclosed in a glass frame

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This church is a newer church built on the original site where this amazing floor map mosaic of the surrounding significant sights are around the Holy Land are - is a Greek Orthodox church now as the sign says on the front of the church.

Inside of course is the mosaic that brings most people or tourists to this church but its also nicely decorated in new mosaics of Christ and various apostles, there is an old embroidery protected in a glass frame on the wall and various old catholic religious paintings down on the floor below.

My hotel, the Madaba Inn, was just over the road from this church so I didnt have far to go to visit plus I had a few nice shots from my window overlooking the church area which included the St Georges Kindergarten and so on.

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Here at the Church of the Virgin there is an excellent collection of mosaics from the surrounding area - information boards are provided in english so it really is a great little place to visit - and only about 2 dinar to enter. There are toilets here too.

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At the mosaic museum at the Church of the Virgin is an information board informing you that this mosaic is from the baths of Herod the Great's palace at Mukawir - about half an hours drive away - on a hilltop overlooking the Dead Sea - apparently where John the Baptist was beheaded at the request of Salome and her mother.

The information board tells you that this piece of mosaic is from the 1st BC and is the most ancient in Jordan. and also gives you an interesting floor plan of the palace site.

Thats an exciting bit of the 'oldest' of something to add to our fanatic about all things ancient VT belt!

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Built above a Roman monument in the 6th century.

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Here also to be seen at the Archelogy Museum on the site of the Church of Mary are Mosaics from the church at Massuh 10 km north of Madaba, dated to the beginning of the 6th century.

As with all the mosaics in the museum information is given in english and arabic.

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This mosaic carpet is here in the museum at the Church of the Virgin for you to see - found by chance under a the house of the Qasr family in Madaba this is called the Hall of the Four seasons.

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These well preserved mosaics are from the 6th century - ie the year 567 - discovered in 1902.

The ticket you buy at the museum at the Church of the Virgin apparentely covers this as well - didnt get told that at the time though. Handy to know there is a Jordan Post box at the entrance door - all my postcards to be posted had been left back at the car though!

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Directions: Corner of Petra Street and Umm ar-Rasas

The Roman Catholic's Pope John Paul visited Jordan in 2000 - when I was at Mt Nebo I saw large photo of him visiting the site in 2000 - outside a church here which I had gone round to to see if it was the church of Mary - but it wasnt - there was this sign outside its locked gate advising of the Pope John Paul's visit here - so that was interesting.

There was also a shop across the road full of statues of Mary - also interesting to see in a muslim country. Regardless of my opinion of Mary worship it is nice to see the tolerance of the religions living side by side in this country.

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Directions: up on the hill between the Church of the Virgin, the Hussein Mosque and the Church of St George