St. George's Church

　　Introduction       St. George’s Orthodox Church is located in the city of Madaba and was originally built in the 5th century AD, then rebuilt in 1896. The church floor features one of Madaba’s most precious mosaics: the oldest existing map of the Middle East. This map is 25 meters long and 5 meters wide, made up of two million colored stone pieces. Because Jerusalem is placed at the center, it is commonly referred to as the Palestine Map. Created around the year 560 AD, the map covers a vast area from Egypt to Lebanon. It accurately depicts the locations and topographical features of ancient Palestinian and Egyptian cities such as Jerusalem and Alexandria, as well as rivers and seas from the 6th century. It clearly marks no fewer than 150 places, and even shows fish swimming away from the Dead Sea where they could not survive. Although parts of the map are damaged, it remains of great archaeological value, providing insight into the region during the first centuries of Christianity. Archaeological excavations based on the geographical locations indicated on the map have led to many significant discoveries. The unique feature of this artwork lies in its seamless combination of geographical markers and religious symbolism. Greek inscriptions not only identify locations but also introduce notable figures and historical events.    Admission / Opening Hours    1 Jordanian Dinar.    Opening Hours: The church opens after 10 AM due to morning Mass and is closed on Fridays.

　　 Jordan, Amman