Jerusalem on the Madaba Map (original) (raw)

One of the most illuminating, and accurate, sources of our knowledge of Byzantine Jerusalem is the Madaba Map. The map is part of a mosaic on the floor of a church built in the town of Madaba, in what is present-day Jordan, in the sixth century. Taking an eastern orientation, the map portrays the Holy Land, showing Jerusalem at the center. And at the center of Jerusalem is the most conspicuous building on the map, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher - although to achieve this the artist had to relocate the church. The Cardo, extending in a straight line southward from Damascus Gate is clearly seen, as are side streets such as the secondary Cardo and various east-west thoroughfares. The Nea Church is visible at the southeast extremity of the Cardo. The city's walls and gates are plainly marked, and the northern gate (today's Damascus Gate) is given special emphasis. The Temple Mount, despite its large area, is only alluded to in the map. This may have been a reflection of the small importance which the Byzantine Christians attached to the Temple Mount, then a long-neglected heap of ruins.