Madaba is dubbed the City of Mosaics, for there are more ancient mosaics here, in situ, than any other place in the world. One of these magnificent pieces is located here. Come see Mt Nebo Jordan, the Promise Land. A short Uber ride from Madaba, I guarantee this is worth the time.
Getting There
While there is no bus, Uber does work in Jordan and except for the hiccups to the Dead Sea and back, has proven a reliable option. My Uber this day cost 3DR ($6 CAD) and took eleven minutes to arrive at my destination.
What is Mt Nebo?
Mount Nebo is the mountain where Moses, at age 120, was sent by God to die. The exact location of his death and burial is not known, however it was here he climbed and saw the Holy Land as Promised to him by God. And indeed, that is exactly what you will see today. Stand at the far side of the hill, and look east, and on the horizon before you are Bethlehem and Jerusalem!
Entrance
At the gate, pay the current fee of 3DR and gain entrance to the site. Walk up a short tree lined path to the manicured space in front of the new church.
To your right is an enormous round stone. This was the door to an ancient Byzantine church down the hill and located in a small town. Walk forward now, to the right of the church and directly towards the view of the Holy Land.
Views
Incredible. Stand at the railing and on a clear day, you will see a series of skyscrapers on the horizon a little to the left of centre. That is the city of Jerusalem which is a mere 46 kilometres away. Left of that is Bethlehem, and even farther left is the Dead Sea.
To the right is the Valley of Moses, a fertile area full of farmland and an oasis with natural springs.
The Brazen Serpent
Nearby, you won’t be able to miss a tall sculpture created by an Italian artist, called the Brazen Serpent. It is modelled after the bronze serpent on a pole that God told Moses to erect to protect him and his people from the snakes that God himself sent.
New Church
This newest church is a recent addition and the most imposing building on the site. It serves two purposes. Firstly, it is an active church which provides religious services. Secondly, it provides cover for the ancient basilica and all that it entails.
Inside the left door, visitors will climb a staircase and be able to view the first set of mosaics. Encompassed here is the ancient monastery, baptisteries, vestibules, courtyards, churches and chapels that were constructed between the 3rd and 6th centuries.
The mosaics you are seeing are from these buildings.
Mosaics
The largest and most complete is called the Diakonikon Mosaic and was built in the year 530. It is extraordinary and full of stunning details. From the animals and trees to the costumes, clothing and weapons, every part of this mosaic is a masterpiece.
There are two baptismal fonts, both with their own sets of mosaics and these are beautiful to see. The cross shaped one I have seen before, the round one is unique.
The mosaics along the walls have been removed from the extensive Byzantine monastery that lay in ruins outside and to the left of the church. The patterns and shapes involved are beautiful, intricate and colourful, like a carpet.
Museum
Once you have exited the church and are back outside and past the ruins of the monastery, find the Museum. Here see static displays of treasures found at the site. Being winter, this museum was a haven to enter and warm up inside as the outside temperatures, especially with the cold wind were uncomfortable.
I decided to walk back to the city of Madaba from Mt Nebo. It took me two and a half hours but was very interesting to see the rural landscape surrounding this area. Besides having to dodge dogs that were biting me, I did not encounter any other issues. Mt Nebo is a must for anyone who loves ancient history, religious places and art. A special place indeed.
