We arrived here from Madaba and were en route to Petra. Arriving at the entry, there is a long path leading right up to the church and the railings from where you get one of the most fantastic views of the Holy Land. It was a cold cloudy windy day and we had about an hour or two to see the site. 
Starting with the view right around outside, you walk
around the whole railing area so that you get a view of the lands beyond. The
stone and metal boards detail out the names of the cities and their directions.
To think that this area covers different countries in a small radius who have
multiple religions and many faiths amongst them too. There was a small group of German tourists who
huddled together in a cluster and sang some hymns. Very soothing to hear them in
that cold bracing air.
I went later to the museum which is small but
extremely well designed with captions. I acknowledge with gratitude their information
which I photographed so that my blog readers get an excellent idea of what it
contains.
Finally into the church, up a ramp. Amazing. The
whole area had been beautifully developed and preserved as they obviously get
considerable revenue from tourism. The frescoes and mosaic flooring are preserved carefully behind
glass and one can really appreciate them. I think though the place is so small,
it was a highlight of our trip and more enjoyable for me than visiting Petra
which was to follow the next day.
If you
go to Jordan, don’t miss this unique destination... Mt Nebo.
Following
data from Wikipedia which gives the reader a better idea of the archaeology and
religious significance.
Quote
Religious significance
According to the final chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses
ascended Mount Nebo to view the Land of Canaan, which God had said he would not enter; he died
in Moab.
According to Christian tradition, Moses was buried
on the mountain, although his place of burial is not specified (Deuteronomy 34:6). Some Islamic traditions
also stated the same, although there is a grave of Moses located at Maqam El-Nabi Musa, 11 km (6.8 mi) south
of Jericho and 20 km (12 mi) east of Jerusalem in the Judean wilderness. Scholars
continue to dispute whether the mountain currently known as Nebo is the same as
the mountain referred to in Deuteronomy. According to 2 Maccabees (2:4–7), the prophet Jeremiah hid the tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant in
a cave there.
On 20 March 2000, Pope John Paul II visited the site during his pilgrimage
to the Holy Land.[ During his visit he planted an olive tree beside the Byzantine chapel as a symbol of
peace. Pope Benedict XVI visited
the site in 2009, gave a speech, and looked out from the top of the mountain in
the direction of Jerusalem.
A serpentine cross sculpture (the Brazen Serpent Monument) atop Mount Nebo was created by
Italian artist Giovanni Fantoni. It is symbolic of the bronze serpent created
by Moses in the wilderness (Numbers 21:4–9) and the cross upon which Jesus was crucified (John 3:14). 
Archaeology
Systematic exploration begun by Sylvester J. Saller O.F.M. were continued in 1933 by Jerome Mihaic of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum. On the highest point of the mountain, Syagha, the remains of a Byzantine church and monastery were discovered in 1933. The church was first constructed in the second half of the 4th century to commemorate the place of Moses' death. The church design follows a typical basilica pattern. It was enlarged in the late fifth century AD and rebuilt in AD 597. The church is first mentioned in an account of a pilgrimage made by a lady Aetheria in AD 394. Six tombs have been found hollowed from the natural rock beneath the mosaic-covered floor of the church.
Bellarmino Bagatti worked on the site in 1935. Virgilio Canio Corbo later excavated the interior of the basilica. In 1963, he was put in charge of restoring the original pavements for exhibition. In the modern chapel presbytery, built to protect the site and provide worship space, remnants of mosaic floors from different periods can be seen. The earliest of these is a panel with a braided cross presently placed on the east end of the south wall.
The Moses Memorial that houses the Byzantine mosaics was closed for renovation from 2007 to 2016. It reopened on 15 October 2016.
Unquote
Text and photographs copyright of the author. No part of this article or photographs maybe transmitted or reproduced by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without written permission. Do contact the author on email -- helpthesun@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment
Text and photographs are copyright of the author. No part of any article or photographs maybe transmitted or reproduced by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without written permission. Do contact the author on email -- helpthesun@gmail.com