Expeditions

Madaba, Jordan

18 miles south of Amman

Many ancient history buffs know the famous mosaic map of Jerusalem in Madaba, but few realize that Madaba is a veritable city of mosaics. From the late Byzantine and early Islamic periods, Madaba mosaics adorn churches, public buildings and private homes. A recently inaugurated archaeological park helps protect some of the more notable mosaics and gives viewers better access to them.

Madaba (or Medeba) appears numerous times in the Bible (Numbers 21:30; Joshua 13:9–16). David’s army defeated a coalition of Ammonites and Arameans there (1 Chronicles 19:7–19); in the ninth century B.C.; the Moabite king Mesha captured the city, a feat recounted on the famous Mesha Stone.^a