Madaba

Madaba

Madaba is a vibrant city renowned for its artistic beauty. Decorated with mosaics dating back to the Byzantine Empire, this lively city is rich in history. With a relatively small population, Madaba has the feel of a large market town instead of a city. Madaba is mentioned in the Bible for its remarkable conquest by King Sihon of Heshbon, dating back some 4500 years. There is little evidence of the city's royal past. However, there are several churches and pathways with remains from the Byzantine era. Madaba is known as the "City of Mosaics" because of the mosaics that adorn these historic buildings. One of Madaba's best-known sites is St. George's Church, which houses the world's largest mosaic map. The map, which was originally built into a Byzantine church and is the oldest map of Palestine on record, believed to have been created in 560 AD, was rediscovered by builders in 1884. The Church of the Virgin and the Hippolytus Hall, both part of the Madaba Archaeological Park and Museum, are other notable sites in the city. Mount Nebo, a holy mountain with an unforgettable panorama, is only 10 kilometers from the center of Madaba. To the southwest of Madaba lies Hammamat Ma'in, also known as the Ma'in Hot Springs, thermal mineral springs that have drawn people for centuries for their alleged healing powers. The Church of the Apostles is located at the southern entrance to Madaba, near the King's Highway. It contains a mosaic called the "Personification of the Sea," which depicts a woman rising from the sea, accompanied by mythical aquatic creatures and a collection of rams, bulls, parrots, and exotic vegetation.