Hazy, Hi 83, Lo 54
We roll with a guide, a bus, a driver and an armed guard.
Our fearless OAT (Overseas Adventure Travel) guide Mohammad
Jordanian guide Mohammad - knowledgeable, warm and genuine. He hails form Irbid, north of Amman. Before the troubles in Syria, Mohammad and his wife would sometimes go to Damascus, Syria for dinner as it was as close as dinner in Amman....
Jordanian guide Mohammad - knowledgeable, warm and genuine. He hails form Irbid, north of Amman. Before the troubles in Syria, Mohammad and his wife would sometimes go to Damascus, Syria for dinner as it was as close as dinner in Amman....
Odai
Tourist policeman Odai - pistol-packing protector of our personage. In the 1950's Jordan experienced an influx of Israeli tourists and it was decided to provide groups with a policeman/woman to prevent any trouble. In fact, Israeli cars were provided with Jordanian license plates for their time in Jordan. Now the Tourist Police provide services for the traveler, handle complains and protect tourist and archaelogy sites.
Mini-bus driver Abbas - fearless. He took us on a road today that I think was narrower than the wheels of the bus. Mini-bus - 16 seater with AC, very comfortable.
The Chureh of the Map
Madaba, Jordan
First stop, the town of Madaba and St. George Greek Orthodox Church to see an ancient map made of two million tiny variously-colored rock chips.
St. George Greek Orthodox Church - portion of floor mosaic map seen in roped area
The mosaic contains the earliest extant representation of Byzantine Jerusalem, labeled the "Holy City." The map provides important details about its 6th-century landmarks, with the Cardo, or central colonnaded street, and the church of the Holy Sepulchre clearly visible. It is possible the the mosaic map was based several historic cartographic sources, one of which is the Tabula Peutingeriana, a map of the road system of the entire Roman Empire dating to the 2nd/3rd century AD. It is extremely unique within the history of cartographic representations of the Holy Land and a source for biblical geography and place names.
Jerusalem, labeled "Holy City' in all caps Latin. The colonnaded Cardo runs across the center of the walled city. All the gates and churches of the area at that time are represented
Use the above key and look for Bethlehem in the photo before
Bethlehem, at top of mosaic. Red letters, white background. The amorphous area above was either damaged in a powerful earthquake or damaged in restoration
Mt. Nebo, Jordan
In the final chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses ascended Mount Nebo to view the Promise Land of Israel, which God had said he would not enter, and to die there; he was buried in an unknown location.
Mt. Nebo Siyagha Memorial of Moses Holy Place
The Promised Land of Milk and Honey was lost in the haze today
View from Mt. Nebo - 90 degrees to the right of the Promised Land
Monument at Mt. Nebo with representational face(s) of Moses
On the highest point of the mountain, Siyagha, the remains of a Byzantine church and monastery were discovered in 1933. In the modern chapel presbytery, built to protect the site and provide worship space, remnants of mosaic floors from different periods can be seen.
I love mosaics - maybe you will too!
Story of man's evolution from hunter (row1-2) to gatherer of fruits & nuts (row 3) to farmer/rancher
Detail of above, bottom right
close-up of mosaic. The tiny pieces of rock are naturally colored, not dyed
In Petra tonight, will visit tomorrow
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