Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
covered in 1894, during the construction of a new Greek Orthodox church on the site of its
ancient predecessor.
Jerusalem, at the centre of the map, forms the largest and most detailed element of the mo-
saic, showing a number of significant structures in the Old City of Jerusalem. The map
also depicts an area from Lebanon in the north to the Nile Delta in the south, and from the
Mediterranean Sea in the West to the Eastern Desert. Among other features, it shows the
Dead Sea with two fishing boats, a variety of bridges linking the banks of the Jordan, fish
swimming in the river, a lion hunting a gazelle in the Moab desert, palm-ringed Jericho,
Bethlehem and other biblical-Christian sites.
The church was decorated with various paintings and framed mosaics depicting St George
and the baptism of Jesus.
A nearby workshop demonstrated of how they go about making mosaics. There were 8
people working at the place, which was heavy with the odour of toxic fumes. They were
using various acetate substances to fix the mosaics, but there didn't seem to be much ventil-
ation. In part it operated as a form of sheltered workshop and there were several physically
handicapped people working on various tasks.
It was now to the Promised Land.
