![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.coldspaghetti.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/madaba1.jpg\" "\\"madaba1\\"")
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Every field works hard to improve, and indeed, our international aid efforts are no different. \u00c2\u00a0There is a lot of criticism of international aid, and while some of it shows there is room for improvement, I think it’s important to remember that that aid has done a great deal of good in the world. \u00c2\u00a0Including protecting some of the most important\u00c2\u00a0archaeologic\u00c2\u00a0and historic sites in Jordan. \u00c2\u00a0The sites in Madaba are evidence of that investment and when I saw this sign, I was really proud of that contribution from my country!<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n Visitor’s Center information in hand, we set off along the worn path of travelers to see Madaba’s sites. \u00c2\u00a0The first was the\u00c2\u00a0Archaeologic\u00c2\u00a0Center.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n (Is this the museum? \u00c2\u00a0Or a park? \u00c2\u00a0Or an announcement for the collection of tourists for gladiator battles? \u00c2\u00a0Arabic is tough stuff for us talentless Yanks, I-kind-you-what. One must be prepared to be okay with being a clueless moron in just about every situation!)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n But we FOUND the site! \u00c2\u00a0And happily went along in, reading the bilingual guides.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0The kids are thrilled by any artifact they can photograph, so as long as we give them a camera to use, they are eager learners of late Roman and Byzantine history.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n These are mosaics preserved from 6th century buildings in Madaba. \u00c2\u00a0This particular site had included a Roman road from the 2nd century, a sprawling estate, and then a church.<\/p>\n Having seen many Green and Roman mosaics, everywhere from museums in the US, UK, Italy, and Greece to those still on the walls in Roman and Greek buildings dating back hundreds of years… in my experience, these are some of the most impressive mosaics I’ve ever seen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The clarity, the brightness and quality of the color, the SIZE — all very notable. In addition, the close proximity of the visitor to the pieces is unique. \u00c2\u00a0Although a wonderful opportunity, perhaps this is not for the best. \u00c2\u00a0One would hope that no douchebag violates that by defacing a priceless piece of history and artistry, but these people are\u00c2\u00a0unfortunately\u00c2\u00a0among us.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Like I said, you can really get close to admire the work. \u00c2\u00a0This piece is over 1500 years old.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The other pieces are around the main designs to show how the edging would have looked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Other areas are still under study, but still accessible by visitors. \u00c2\u00a0This is the church and mansion — you walk around to see how under this huge mosaic were signs of the mansion that existed there before the church.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Incredible detail…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n It’s hard to appreciate how impressive the mosaic is, as it’s so big, it’s hard to take in all the little symbols and stories held within the patterns.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I think Will took this picture. \u00c2\u00a0Nice, huh?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Give a kid a camera!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This entry way held an incredibly cool mosaic, showing seasons at the corners (the Goddess Cornucopia, with the trademark horn, with seasonal goods spilling out to show each season) and the story of Phaedra and Hippolytus in the center.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I totally tried to tell the kids the story, but reminded myself that I should be happy that they were interested without my getting all Greek-myth-crazy-geeky on them. \u00c2\u00a0Also, it’s a sad story. \u00c2\u00a0Do you remember it? \u00c2\u00a0Phaedra is married to Theseus (of the Minotaur fame) and because of some curse from Aphrodite, is made to fall in love with Theseus’s son, Hippolytus. (Not her own son, just her step-son.) \u00c2\u00a0It doesn’t end well. \u00c2\u00a0There are various endings, but Euripedes’ version has Theseus killing Hippolytus and then Phaedra committing suicide, which is sort of how all the others end, too, eventually. \u00c2\u00a0So it’s probably for the better that I didn’t force the kids to find the symbolism of the story in the mosaic.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n From there, we ventured to the spot where most visitors to Madaba Bee-Line to upon entry into the town: St. George’s Church, or, the Church With THE MAP.<\/p>\n Here is a picture of the Church courtyard. \u00c2\u00a0It’s simply a lovely, lovely church in the center of the town.<\/p>\n By the way, 1\/3 of the population of Madaba is Christian. \u00c2\u00a0So this place is used regularly for services, as it has been for more than a\u00c2\u00a0millennia.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here is the church. \u00c2\u00a0In the small but thoughtful and informative museum, there are photographs of this church in the middle of a barren hillside outside of the village proper dating back to the turn of the century. \u00c2\u00a0It’s as sweet and stately in those pictures as it is now… really a special place.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here is the museum, where you go to pay your 1JD for entry. \u00c2\u00a0The guard has cousins in Florida and Detroit, just in case you get to chatting!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The inside feels much like going into an old European church.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are prayer candles burning (I couldn’t find candles for visitors, however) and the walls are lined with more modern mosaics and pews.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n And then, right up by the nave, is the oldest map of the Holy Land. \u00c2\u00a0The one that scholars have used for the last 150 years to pinpoint just WHERE in the places in the Scriptures actually exist. \u00c2\u00a0Where IS Mount Nebo? \u00c2\u00a0Where is Sodom? \u00c2\u00a0Where was Christ born? \u00c2\u00a0These are the kinds of questions brought to this map. \u00c2\u00a0It’s the oldest map we have that charts out the places discussed in scripture. \u00c2\u00a0It’s been painted, reproduced, and photographed a million different ways, so while we won’t ever lose what information it there, it’s still a pretty cool mosaic in a pretty cool church.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A very cute, very sweet church.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We really hope that the carpets are to protect the mosaic, and not to bring out the pews to set on top of it during services. \u00c2\u00a0(Right, right?)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The rest of the church is lovely, too. \u00c2\u00a0Madaba is worth a visit!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n