Ammon News - By Taylor Luck

MADABA - Each day, busloads of tourists who make their way to Saint George Church of the Map in Madaba bypass a treasure trove of Roman and Byzantine history.

In contrast to other sites in the city, the gateway to ancient Madaba is inconspicuously tucked away amongst the mosaic workshops, carpet stalls and quiet cafés that line Artisan Street.

Now part of the Madaba Archaeological Park, the centrepiece of the town’s heyday in the Roman and Byzantine eras includes a Roman street, a Byzantine palace and a church with intricate mosaics that rival those of any other site in the Kingdom.

Known today as the Burnt Palace, the imposing Byzantine complex dates back to the turn of the 7th century.

Large iron door-knockers shaped as lion heads found at the site indicate the immense wealth of the palace’s former owners.

Mosaic pastoral motifs once lined the residence, with images still visible today including a shepherd with his dog, a ewe nursing a lamb, a horse challenging a crouching lion and a hunter impaling a bear.

The palace stands on one of the last remnants of a Roman street, a grand promenade flanked by columns running from east to west through the city, leading to gates in city walls that have long since vanished.

Across the Roman street lies the Church of the Martyrs, a 7th century structure that stretches over 30 metres in length and features an expansive mosaic floor.

Also known to Madaba residents as Al Khadir Church, the building’s mosaics depict pastoral and hunting scenes, such as a man with an axe and a hunter spearing a boar.

The bright and bold vine-laden borders lining the chapel include scenes from nature and of winemaking, which was once widespread in the region during the Byzantine era.

Although its days of wealth and prominence are long past, with modern buildings rising up around the Roman columns, the ancient town stands as reminder of Madaba’s proud history.

Visitors passing through Madaba on their way to Saint George Church or Mount Nebo should stop for a moment, leave the crowds behind and walk in the footsteps of the Romans and Byzantines in an ancient town built on faith.

(Jordan Times)

*** Tucked away in between rows of cafes and tourist shops on Artisan Street lie the remains of the Burnt Palace, Martyr’s Church and Roman Street at the Madaba Archaeological Park (Photo by Taylor Luck)