Place to Visit: Mt Nebo

Wonderful Mosaics and Views of ‘The Promised Land’

Central Jordan, Jordan

The Dead Sea spreads out some 1,240 metres below Mt Nebo, reputedly the spot from which Moses is said to have looked out to see the Promised Land. Today the location is marked by an ironwork sculpture and Byzantine basilica whose mosaics easily rival those seen elsewhere in the Mediterranean region for beauty of execution.

Great Reasons To Visit

  • Stand in the spot Moses stood and look down on Jericho, the Dead Sea and towards the Promised Land
  • See the mosaics in the Byzantine basilica
  • Combine a visit to Mt Nebo with one to Madaba and the Dead Sea – a great day out

Background

The Bible tells us that aged 120 Moses was instructed by God to go to Mt Nebo from where he would see the Promised Land of the Israelites, before dying. With the dawn of Christianity a church was built on the site and, in time, additions made to it, it eventually growing to a monastery and important pilgrimage site. The site was abandoned then in 1932 recovered by Franciscan monks who have done much work to reconstruct the basilica and reveal the stunning mosaics for which it is now famous.

Relaxing

A moment of quiet reflection looking out over the Promised Land to Jerusalem is a great way to spend a few moments away from the crowd.

Mt Nebo

The first thing to strike the visitor to Nebo is the amazing view westwards across the Dead Sea which lies almost 1250 meters below. The view is sometimes obscured by the haze of the day but nonetheless is impressive, made more so as one considers this spot is said to be the same as that on which Moses stood.

The nearby 6th century basilica is now covered by a protective building inside which are the famous mosaics, the beauty of which is easily comparable with those elsewhere in the classical world. Detailed illustrations of lions, a bear, pigs along with domesticated sheep and goats can be found along with hunting and herding scenes, ostrich, zebra and camel, the representation of a cross, gazelles and pomegranate trees. The artists’ names are picked out in mosaic at the lower edge.

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