Simon says: "join me in exploring the history of Israel using ancient maps!"

Simon says: "join me in exploring the history of Israel using ancient maps!"

Did you know that the oldest map of the Holy Land is actually a magnificent mosaic? I've always been fascinated by maps, and this is another one of my favourites.

Join me in unveiling the Marvels of the Madaba Mosaic.

Crafted by anonymous artists, likely for the Christian community of Madaba, this magnificent mosaic depicts part of the Middle East during the height of the Byzantine period is the oldest surviving original cartographic depiction of the Holy Land - & especially Jerusalem.

It is comprised of thousands of coloured stones, known as tesserae. The mosaic portrays a vast expanse of land, stretching from Lebanon in the north to Egypt in the south, and from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the Arabian Desert in the east. Through its intricate design, we are transported to a world imagined from above, where the central walled city of Jerusalem stands as a symbol of spiritual significance.

Madaba, an ancient town of the Jordanian Plateau, is mentioned in the bible as a Moabite city (Numbers 21:30 & Joshua 13:9) but in the bible it was known as Medeba. Today, Madaba (Arabic: مادبا; Biblical Hebrew: מֵידְבָא‎ Mēḏəḇāʾ; Ancient Greek: Μήδαβα) is the capital city of Madaba Governorate in central Jordan, with a population of about 60,000.

Today it is celebrated for its exquisite Byzantine mosaics, showcasing the artistic prowess of bygone eras.

During the Roman & Byzantine periods Madaba was a thriving city in Provincia Arabia, but after the Muslim conquest it declined rapidly. There is evidence that the ruling Umayyad Caliphate removed some parts of the mosaic which depicted people.

In 746 CE most of Madaba was destroyed by an earthquake & by the mid-8th century it had been abandoned.

In 106 CE, the region was incorporated into the Province of Arabia, following Trajan's defeat of the Nabataeans at Petra. Christianity gained a foothold in the Madaba region during the late Roman period, & there is evidence of there being a bishop in Madaba as early as the middle of the 5th century

Resettled by Christian Arab tribespeople from the Karak area in 1880 CE, today, Christians tours to Jordan will find it inhabited by both Christians & Muslims.

The Madaba mosaic was rediscovered in 1884, during the construction of the new Greek Orthodox church of Saint George at Madaba, on the site of its ancient predecessor.

It is not oriented northward, as modern maps are, but faces east so that the position of places on the map coincides with the compass directions. Originally measuring 21 by 7 meters & containing over two million tesserae, the mosaic has weathered the passage of time, undergoing restoration efforts to ensure its continued splendour. While its dimensions have decreased slightly due to various factors, including fires & moisture damage, its significance remains undiminished.

The mosaic depicts a myriad of scenes, including the Dead Sea with fishing boats, bridges spanning the Jordan River, fish, lions & gazelles - & iconic landmarks such as Jericho and Bethlehem.

Perhaps most striking are the references the 12 Tribes of Israel, plus intricate details of the Old City of Jerusalem, with landmarks like the Tower of David and the Cardo Maximus - & the detailed street map of Jerusalem from the year 550 when the Holy Land was firmly under Byzantine Christian rule.
Jerusalem is depicted far out of proportion to its physical size, which is consistent with its spiritual & religious importance.

A replica of the Madaba map can be seen in Jerusalem’s restored Cardo today, the magnificent thoroughfare and main shopping street that bisected the city on a north-south axis.

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