Episode 1: Madaba Plains Region
Jet lag has mostly worn off so I'll dive into this.
A little background, my dad has been heavily involved in archaeology in the region (primarily Jordan) since the early 70s. This family/extended family trip has been something he and my mom have been concocting for the better part of 3 years. 12 days with 9 of those visiting a wide variety of sites.
After some 30 hours of traveling + a quick nights sleep at a place we would call home for several nights in Madaba, we hit the ground running. In collaboration with the Jordanian government, a museum has been created and continuing to be renovated in downtown Madaba.
Here's my dad doing what he does best, teaching.
walking through the shops in Madaba. If anyone finds themselves in the region, make sure that you eat at the falafel and shawarma stands...it will ruin you.
mosaics...there will be a few of these. These are located in the museum in Madaba.
We visited Hisban, the first site that my dad took an active role in leadership with the excavation of the site.
Next, we visited a site that I helped with 35 years ago, Tel el Umeryi. It looked quite different than when I was there.
Traveling back through Amman on our way to Jerash...
Jerash, a historically significant site in the region due to its age primarily, but also in that it is composed of Christian buildings, Greek and Roman mythology (it always cracks me up when that's considered mythology yet often times Christian stories are not...but that's a conversation for another day).
The Forum at Jerash with the temple of Zeus in the background.
view from the Temple of Zeus
Temple of Zeus
more Jerash
Ajlun Castle
Some of the most complete mosaics in the entire region can be found at St. Stevens Church
This one is literally a map of the region with the city names all around the edge...
Part 2 coming up....
Jet lag has mostly worn off so I'll dive into this.
A little background, my dad has been heavily involved in archaeology in the region (primarily Jordan) since the early 70s. This family/extended family trip has been something he and my mom have been concocting for the better part of 3 years. 12 days with 9 of those visiting a wide variety of sites.
After some 30 hours of traveling + a quick nights sleep at a place we would call home for several nights in Madaba, we hit the ground running. In collaboration with the Jordanian government, a museum has been created and continuing to be renovated in downtown Madaba.
Here's my dad doing what he does best, teaching.
walking through the shops in Madaba. If anyone finds themselves in the region, make sure that you eat at the falafel and shawarma stands...it will ruin you.
mosaics...there will be a few of these. These are located in the museum in Madaba.
We visited Hisban, the first site that my dad took an active role in leadership with the excavation of the site.
Next, we visited a site that I helped with 35 years ago, Tel el Umeryi. It looked quite different than when I was there.
Traveling back through Amman on our way to Jerash...
Jerash, a historically significant site in the region due to its age primarily, but also in that it is composed of Christian buildings, Greek and Roman mythology (it always cracks me up when that's considered mythology yet often times Christian stories are not...but that's a conversation for another day).
The Forum at Jerash with the temple of Zeus in the background.
view from the Temple of Zeus
Temple of Zeus
more Jerash
Ajlun Castle
Some of the most complete mosaics in the entire region can be found at St. Stevens Church
This one is literally a map of the region with the city names all around the edge...
Part 2 coming up....
Last edited:
