Be among the Fortunate Ones to View the Promised Land from the Holy Mount Nebo
Sacred Mountains | March 25, 2010Located at 6 miles from Madaba in Jordan facing the Dead Sea at the northern tip, Mount Nebo is sacred mountain with 1000 m of height from where Moses viewed the Promised Land prior to his death. Due to this event, it is of great significance for the Christian pilgrims. Ascending from the Jordan Valley, Mount Nebo is the Biblical site from where you can become Moses and view the magnificent vistas of the Promised Land.
Noteworthy remains of an early church and its stunning Byzantine mosaics have been found during the excavations by the Franciscans. On this dug site, a plain, but contemporary shield is built in honor of Moses. In 2000, Pope John Paul II came on his pilgrimage here and planted an olive tree as a sign of peace besides the Byzantine chapel.
Mount Nebo Attractions
- Modern Sculpture:
Made by an Italian artist on the summit’s base, this symbolizes the staff of Moses and words of Jesus in John 3: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” - Memorial Church of Moses:
This is the modern baptist church edifice holding the excavated triple-apse Byzantine basilica and ancient mosaic floors. - Old Baptistery:
Located within the church’s entrance to the left, this possesses one of the most charming ancient mosaics in the nation. According to the Greek inscription, the baptistery and the mosaic were built in August 531 A.D. by three workers during the reign of the bishop, Elias. The mosaic is still in a clean state due to it being piled by another one on it, now hanging on a wall. The underlying mosaic is a big square split into four scenic strips of men and animals. The upper two parts show severe hunting scenes where a shepherd is chasing a lion, a soldier doing so for a lioness, and two horseback hunters conquering a bear and wild boar. The lower parts depict rural scenes – a shepherd observing a goat and sheep in the tree’s shade, an ostrich held by a dark looking man, a boy with the leashes of a zebra, and an animal appearing like a camel but planned to be a giraffe. - Other Mosaics:
These can be seen on the side ways of the church among which the most ancient one is a braided cross on the wall at south. You can also see the mosaics of animals belonging to the Church of George in Mukhayyat out of which one is the most primitive exhibit of the Arabic writing in Jordan since 536 A.D. - New Baptistery:
Located in the right corner of the church, this was built in 597 A.D. and was once a funerary chapel. Herein, you will come across a small mosaic originally having the greeting as Peace to all. Besides this edifice, a nice mosaic cross is seen on the altar, which was originally in the 4th century church here. Be delighted to view the photo of the Pope praying at the altar. - Theotokos Chapel:
Located at the exit door, this is the 7th century edifice built on the site of the three rooms of the monastery. Here, a mosaic of a square shape is seen that might have been a ciborium (vessel for the Eucharist) along with bulls and gazelles. The floor is covered with the mosaics of plants and flowers.
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According to the final chapter of Deuteronomy, Mount Nebo is where the Hebrew prophet Moses was given a view of the promised land that God was giving to the Israelites. “And Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho.” (Deuteronomy 34:1).