Located between
and
,
is considered by many to be the center of
faith. Hi, I'm Rebecca Brayton and welcome to watchmojo.com, and today, we'll be continuing our travel series with a look at the many
sites in Jordan.
Mount Nebo is considered one of the most important
Christian sites in Jordan. It is where
is said to have gone to get a view of the
before he died.
Mount Nebo offers a fantastic view westward, with a vista that includes the
, the
West Bank, the
Jordan River, and, on a clear day,
and Jerusalem.
According to both Jewish and Christian tradition,
Moses was then
buried on this mountain by God himself.
In 2000, Pope John Paul the second visited the mountain during his
to the
Holy Land. To symbolize peace, the Pope planted an olive tree beside the Byzantine
.
Atop one of Nebo’s two
peaks sits a
shrine showcasing which decorated the
that once stood at the location. The largest mosaic depicts the monastic activity of wine-making, along with hunters and various animals.
Just outside the building is the Serpentine Cross, a symbol to represent both the bronze serpent created by Moses, and the cross on which
was
.
The Jordan River is associated with some of the most important events in the
. Historically and religiously, it is considered to be one of the world’s most
rivers. Many biblical characters, most notably
and Jesus, crossed the river during their lifetimes. To most Christians, the most significant
event linked to the River Jordan is the
of Christ by John the Baptist. The Baptism site is located at the head of a
lush valley just east of the Jordan River. The
refers several times to Jesus crossing the Jordan, and of
believers crossing to hear him speak or be
healed of their maladies. Jesus also
sought refuge near the River when his enemies were trying to capture him.
The Jordan was also the site of many biblical
, such as the Israelites crossing under Joshua and the
healing of Namaan by Elijah, for example.
Today, believers
flock to the Jordan to
bask in its waters and be
in the same river as
.
Of the mountains that circle Petra, none is more imposing than Aaron’s mountain. It is believed that Moses’ brother Aaron died and was buried on the peak. Although biblical scholars and archaeologists debate
whether it is, in fact, the Mount Hor referred to in the
, Aaron’s story
fits strongly with this mountain.
Located
roughly 20 miles southwest of Amman, Madaba is best known for its mosaics, especially a large Byzantine-era mosaic map depicting Jordan,
,
and other
surrounding regions.
The Madaba Map can be found in the
church of Saint George, and is the oldest surviving
chart of the Holy Land. In fact, the map has helped verify biblical locations. It is estimated that the Madaba Map originally consisted of 2.3 million stone
tiles and measured a
staggering 80 by 15 feet.