Study Tour 2013: Amman to Petra, Jordan

We left Amman early in the morning and headed for a Greek Orthodox church in Madaba. The Map of Madaba mosaic was discovered in 1896 and the findings were published a year later. This discovery drew the attention of scholars worldwide. It also positively influenced the inhabitants, who shared the contagious passion of F. Giuseppe Manfredi, to whom the rediscovery of most of the city's mosaics are owed. Madaba became known as the "City of Mosaics" in Jordan.

The Madaba Mosaic Map is an index map of the region, dating from the 6th century, preserved in the floor of the Greek Orthodox Basilica of Saint George. With two million pieces of colored stone, the map depicts hills and valleys, villages and towns in Palestine and the Nile Delta. The mosaic contains the earliest extant representation of Byzantine Jerusalem, labeled the "Holy City." The map provides important details as to its 6th-century landmarks, with the cardo, or central colonnaded street and the Holy Sepulchre clearly visible. This map is one key in developing scholarly knowledge about the physical layout of Jerusalem after its destruction and rebuilding in 70 AD.

From Madaba we headed for Mt Nebo. According to the final chapter of Deuteronomy, Moses ascended Mount Nebo to view the Land of Israel: And Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho [1].

According to Christian tradition, Moses was buried on the mountain, although his place of burial is not specified. Some Islamic traditions also stated the same,[2] although there is a grave of Moses located at Maqam El-Nabi Musa which lies 11 km (6.8 mi) south of Jericho and 20 km (12 mi) east of Jerusalem in the Judean wilderness.[3] Scholars continue to dispute whether the mountain currently known as Nebo is the same as the mountain referred to in the Torah.

After Mt Nebo we headed for Al Karak where there is a big Crusader Castle. Karak, once a Kingdom,[3] lies 140 km to the south of Amman on the King's Highway. An ancient Crusader stronghold, it is situated on a hilltop about 1000 meters above sea level and is surrounded on three sides by a valley. Karak has a view of the Dead Sea. A city of about 20,000 people has been built up around the castle, and it has buildings from 19th century Ottoman period. The town is built on a triangular plateau, with the castle at its narrow southern tip, but it is undoubtedly Karak Castle which dominates.

From Al Karak we were off to Petra in Wadi Musa. (Valley of Moses)
Petra (Arabic: البتراء, Al-Batrāʾ) is a historical and archaeological city in the southern Jordanian governorate of Ma'an, that is famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system. Another name for Petra is the Rose City due to the color of the stone out of which it is carved.

Established possibly as early as 312 BCE as the capital city of the Nabataeans,[1] it is a symbol of Jordan, as well as its most-visited tourist attraction.[2] It lies on the slope of Jebel al-Madhbah (identified by some as the biblical Mount Hor [3]) in a basin among the mountains which form the eastern flank of Arabah (Wadi Araba), the large valley running from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba.

The site remained unknown to the Western world until 1812, when it was introduced by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.

Tonight after tea went for a candle light presentation of Petra. The program was simple with a Bedouin playing a local Taweeda then another local played flute. We also had a drink of Beduin Tea. The tea is very sweat.

Walked back on a beautiful starry night to our Moevenpick hotel, just near the entrance to Petra city. Looking forward to seeing Petra by day.