Madaba's Mosaics

Madaba (Medeba), an ancient city in Jordan, is located 20 miles southwest of Amman. A former Moabite border city, the Bible mentions Madaba in Numbers and Joshua.

But we have overthrown them; Heshbon is destroyed all the way to Dibon. We have demolished them as far as Norphah, which extends to Medeba (Numbers 21:30).

It extended from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and included the whole plateau of Medeba as far as Dibon (Joshua 13:9).

Because of the large number of Byzantine mosaics uncovered in the area, Madaba is known as the "City of Mosaics." The first mosaics, discovered by accident, were understood to be of great importance by the priests at the time; and under their urgings, Madaba's new inhabitants made sure to preserve all future mosaics.

In 1896, the most famous discovery was made when the Madaba map, a 6th century mosaic map of the Holy Land, was uncovered. Situated in the floor of the Greek Orthodox Basillica of St. George, the mosaic map once contained two million pieces of colored stone and depicted hills, valleys, villages, and towns in Palestine and the Egyptian Nile Delta. Originally 51 ft. x 19.5 ft., the map's current remains are 34.5 ft. x 16.5 ft. with a still impressive 750,000 colored stones remaining. Despite its patchy remnants, the Madaba map is still revered for being the oldest map of the Holy Land still in existence.

Greek Orthodox Basilica of St. George

Everyone gathered around the Madaba mosaic floor map.

The mosaic map is located on the floor to the left in the picture, surrounded by chains.

The Dead Sea is at the top, right corner with the location of Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River coming off of it to the left. Jerusalem, surrounded by city walls, is depicted below the Dead Sea.

Close-up of Jerusalem

Close-up of the Dead Sea and Bethany-beyond-the Jordan.