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Description

Madaba is a city perched on a fertile plain over which the Moabites and the Israelites fought for control. One of the first recoded references of the city is located in The Mesha Stele: claiming that King Mesha defeated the Israelites and rebuilt the town of Madaba.

The city then passed into the hands Hasmonaean Jewish Kingdom. Over the centuries, the city passed into Nabataean and then Roman control. By the Byzantine 5th century, the town was a flourishing bishopric and most of the mosaics we see today are from that period.

During early Islam, Christianity continued to have a large following, with evidence of further churches being built in that period. The city started to fall into decline after the great earthquake of 794 ACE, becoming completely abandoned by the time of the Mamluk Period.

In 1880, Christian families left Karak and settled in Madaba. In 1884 while clearing the rubble of an old church, the Madaba Mosaic Map was discovered and the new residents decided to construct a Greek-Orthodox church around it and dedicate it to St. George.

Description

Madaba is a city perched on a fertile plain over which the Moabites and the Israelites fought for control. One of the first recoded references of the city is located in The Mesha Stele: claiming that King Mesha defeated the Israelites and rebuilt the town of Madaba.

The city then passed into the hands Hasmonaean Jewish Kingdom. Over the centuries, the city passed into Nabataean and then Roman control. By the Byzantine 5th century, the town was a flourishing bishopric and most of the mosaics we see today are from that period.

During early Islam, Christianity continued to have a large following, with evidence of further churches being built in that period. The city started to fall into decline after the great earthquake of 794 ACE, becoming completely abandoned by the time of the Mamluk Period.

In 1880, Christian families left Karak and settled in Madaba. In 1884 while clearing the rubble of an old church, the Madaba Mosaic Map was discovered and the new residents decided to construct a Greek-Orthodox church around it and dedicate it to St. George.