Franciscan Church atop Mt. Nebo - via Wikipedia

Me personally, I enjoyed my visits to Mount Nebo especially the latter.

There was no haze that evening and from this 3300 ft. elevation located just 6 miles north west of Madaba, giving me an opportunity to look out onto “Gilead, as far as Dan,” and seeing for miles what Moses was recorded seeing in Deuteronomy 34:1.

I also marveled at the magnificent series of Byzantine mosaics that adorned the now Franciscan church atop Mt. Nebo … the largest being some 10 yards in length.

That reminds me to get those pix and videos online … so little time …

… speaking of time …  my aggregator brought my attention to a book entitled “Temple at the Center of Time: Newton’s Bible Codex Deciphered and the Year 2012.”

A ‘best-selling prophecy book‘ that asserts that via author David Flynn’s studies of the Temple Mount, the Ark will can be found at Mount Nebo in Jordan.

Just as a quick catch-up, Mt. Nebo, a.k.a. Jebel Musa and/or Fasaliyyeh, had like many sites of pilgrimage in early Christendom, a sanctuary was built to commemorate the Biblical history associated with the location. We know that Lady Egeria (Aetheria) visited the site in 394 AD.

We know that from Greek inscriptions on the mosaics, we know the name of the mosaicists, Soel, Kaium, and Elias, and the name of the Bishop of Madaba, Elias - both dating back to 532 AD. That later in the 6th century, it appears the structure was significantly expanded. Records indicate that the site was still active in the 13th century, but then found abandoned by a Portuguese Franciscan monk whom visited the site 1564.

Many of these discoveries the result of an that a handful of experts from the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum whom were given stewardship of the site back in 1932. It was these Franciscans who discovered the mosaic of the Old Baptistery Chapel in the Memorial Church of Moses at Mount Nebo back in August of 1976. Since that discovery, an annual feast of Moses is celebrated on September 4, 1976 where the Christian community join with the Franciscan Fathers in this solemnity.

In 1993, the site was purchased outright by the Franciscans, who further excavated and restored the area. Work was completed in time for Pope John Paul II’s visit on March 19, 2000, where he planted an olive tree next to the Byzantine chapel.

Along with the many mosaics discovred, six tombs have been found hollowed from the natural rock beneath the mosaic-covered floor of the church.

Perhaps this is these discoveries, along with some Millenium inspired Internet chatter, that inspired David Flynn’s findings. I’m not sure, but either way, there’s quite a bit more written about the book over at WorldNetDaily - a good source for political punditry - though this writer isn’t so sure about their archaeological chops.

Whether or not the Temple Mount points to location of lost Ark, is the location of the Ark, is where the Ark once rested, etc … my recommendation is to visit Jordan for yourself, enjoy some shopping, mezza, and mosaics in Madaba … then trek on up to Mt.Nebo to see the sun set.

Just make sure to bring your filters for your camera lens, because while you may not find the resting place of the lost Ark of the Covenant up there, you will enjoy a spectacular panorama of the promised land, moving mosaics, and a chance to take photos of this beautiful place of Biblical antiquity … before it is dug-up crazy by Ark seekers.

The remains of the church in the Basilica Terrace of Umm Qais

Over at IsabellaBroad, Study Abroad 2008: Jordan and the Middle East blog, we learn three important things about Umm Qais:

1. The geological make up of the startling ruins that mark the spot of the once Hellenistic-Roman city once known as Gadara;
2. The Jordanian famous hospitality extends even to their taxi drivers; and
3. Why it’s not a great idea to name a child Isabella in the Arabic culture

Here is just a small snippet from her post “A weekend…of biblical proportions:”

We piled back into the taxi to drive to Umm Qais, which is about as far north in Jordan as you can get. We drove through Irbid, another large city in Jordan and home to Yarmouk University, one of the best schools in the country and the Arab world. Yarmouk is also home to one of UNC’s Arabic language-intensive summer program, the other being in Morocco …

Umm Qais, or Gardara, was one of the great cities of the Decapolis, which holds religious significance for Christians (Gardara is the place where Jesus cast out the Devil from two demons into a herd of pigs). It also provides a beautiful vantage point for Palestinians living in Jordan to look over to their homeland from afar.

Umm Qais is very startling because the ruins are made of black basalt and white limestone. The West Theatre, for instance, is made entirely of black basalt, where the Basilica Terrace, which contains the remains of a church built on top of a row of shops, is both basalt and limestone, and the main street through the city is mostly the white limestone. There is also an excellent viewing platform from where you can clearly see to the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights …

For more of the above, be sure to visit Isabella’s page.

However, experts expect the current average annual increase in tourist arrivals to the region to continue, and to record the highest worldwide growth rates by 2020.

… The Middle East is the cradle of ancient civilizations and the birthplace of world’s monotheist religions. The region’s precious collections of archeological monuments and ruins, including wonders of ancient and modern times: Egypt’s pyramids, Iraq’s hanging gardens of Babylon (which today exists through a duplicate), lighthouse of Alexandria, and recently Jordan’s Petra.

Furthermore, the region has a long list of diverse nature to offer today - ranging from green mountains in Lebanon and pristine beaches of North African and Middle Eastern countries overlooking the Arabian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea, to rare colourful rock formations, as in Wadi Rum and Petra in southern Jordan, and the charming colourful underwater coral reefs in the Red sea …

Read the rest of the story at GulfNews

A Jordanian Classic

The Jordanian Royal Family’s love of classic cars and racing has been well documented, so it comes as no surprise that this October sees the return of the Jewel that is Jordan - a spectacular classic car rally set against the stunning desert scenery of Jordan.

There are many ways to explore this Middle Eastern gem, but few can be as indulgent and enjoyable as cruising to the Dead Sea - the lowest point on earth - in the comfort of a 1961 Mercedes Benz 300SL, or even a 1933 Lagonda M45 BMW once owned by HM King Abdullah II.

From 14 to 27 October, 2008, this year’s invitation only event, organised by entrepreneur Jonathon Lyons and supported by the Classic Car Committee of the Royal Automobile Club of Jordan, and the Jordan Tourism Board, will see 25 classic and vintage cars and participants from as far a field as Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Holland, South Africa, India, USA and Canada, as well as from Jordan, assembled and ready for departure in the Red Sea port-city of Aqaba.

[... read more about this event]

Here’s just one place that can show you how to make it happen …

… read more about Dive Aqaba - Red Sea - Jordan

This photo blog offers dozens of pictures “Located in Jordan and dubbed the “treasure of the ancient world,” Petra is a city hewn from living rock.”

… view and enjoy more from Jordan-Petra pictures from jordan photos on webshots

the Monastery at Petra

Jordan impresses and depresses by Tan Siok Choo, Sun2Surf, Malaysia - 5 hours ago

“IMPRESSED and depressed – this is what I felt when I visited Jordan for the first time in early May. I was impressed because Jordan offers historic ruins, religious sites and natural landscapes; its tourism industry is well organised and the country appears to be exceptionally open minded about former foreign occupiers and about Islam.

I was depressed because Jordan’s positives serve only to accentuate Malaysia’s negatives.

Its top tourist sites are Petra, Jerash and Wadi Rum. Petra is a city with spectacular temples and tombs carved from multi-coloured rock 2,000 years ago by the Nabateans. Equally stunning is the narrow, canyon-like passageway known as The Siq – a single rock rent apart by tectonic forces, the Lonely Planet guidebook says …

… Equally praiseworthy are indicators of Jordan’s religious tolerance. Mosques and churches were in close proximity to each other. In Amman, the King Abdullah mosque is situated directly opposite the Coptic Orthodox Church, while nearby is a Greek Orthodox Church.

Although Jordan’s population is more than 90% Muslim, biblical sites feature prominently in the itinerary suggested by the Jordanian travel agency. Two much-visited places are Bethany-beyond-the Jordan river where it is believed Jesus was baptised, and Mount Nebo where Moses is reputed to be buried.

In short, Jordan offers exceptional visual delights and a tourist-friendly, multi-lingual and tolerant religious outlook that Malaysia would do well to emulate.”

[read the rest of the story]

Crump on his trusty steed

A two-wheeled epic adventure from Amman to Aqaba through the Great Rift Valley that included:

• dealing with 95 degree desert heat;
• army checkpoints manned by “pimply teenagers” with big guns;
• stunning sandless desert landscapes with shining pebbles and sunset silhouettes;
• peddling through the lowest place on earth;
• friendly farmers waving from their tidy tomato fields and olive groves;
• camping out with the Bediouns in a tent; and
• peddling to points like Petra and the Dead Sea.

There’s much more to read about in the original article, including links to the tour company and six other similar cycling adventures.

Domingo performed against the backdrop of one of the most impressive and best preserved Greco-Roman theaters in the world in the city of Jerash, 40 kilometers north of the capital Amman. Krall performed at the Amman Citadel, an equally impressive Greco-Roman site. more >>

CERAMICS BY PICASSO

Sunday, May 11 - Sunday, July 13

9:00 AM - 7:00 AM

category:

Art & Culture

city:

Amman

location:

Jabal L’weibdeh - Al-Muntazah circle - Husni Fareez street.
Except Tuesdays and Fridays.

admission:

Free

contact:

email:

info

website:

www.nationalgallery.org” title=”click here to visit organizer’s website”>www.nationalgallery.org

phone:

064630128

description:

For the first time in the Middle East, opening at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts under the Patronage of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, an exhibition of original artworks of ceramics, etchings and illustrated books for the well known artist, Picasso, in cooperation with Cervantes Institute.
www.nationalgallery.org

IRBID 1st ECONOMIC CONFERENCE (IEC 1st).

Saturday, June 21 - Thursday, July 24

9:00 AM - 7:00 PM

category:

Business

city:

Amman

location:

Kempinski Amman

admission:

Ticket

contact:

Yazan A. faouri

email:

yazan.faouri

website:

n/a

phone:

n/a

description:

IRBID 1st ECONOMIC CONFERENCE (IEC 1st).

FOLLOWING his Majesty King Abdullah Bin Al-Hussein the Second, and as per his instruction to direct the economic activities from the capital Amman towards the Jordanian governorate and badeyah region, we recommend Irbid City, one of the Development Area established according to His Majesty King Abdullah II instructions as an Economic Zone, where it has all the necessities from infra structure essential for establishing all kinds of investment projects and where Irbid is the second largest city in Jordan, as there all the legal and management facilities will be available in which they facilitate all the investors’ businesses in a comprehensible means at all levels.

Investors were invited from and outside Jordan, sponsored by several Governmental Societies in order to participate in this Conference, submit working sheets and to participate in the exhibition.

Along with the conference, there will be an Exhibition for three day to show the Investment Companies’ products and the investment opportunities available at the Private Irbid Economic Zone.
Public Relation Manager / Yazan A. Faouri
0776406010
email: yazan.faouri

www.jmultimedia.com

Black & White

Thursday, June 26 - Tuesday, November 30

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM

category:

Entertainment

city:

Amman

location:

At The Royal Cutural Center

admission:

Free

contact:

Foresight Art Gallery

email:

foresightart

website:

n/a

phone:

n/a

description:

www.foresight.com

60 Years

Tuesday, November 30 - Friday, August 1

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

category:

Art & Culture

city:

Amman

location:

Jabal Al Weibdeh
Al Saadi str. opposite to Luzmila Hospital

admission:

Free

contact:

Huzaima Basheer

email:

darat

website:

www.daratalfunun.org ” title=”click here to visit organizer’s website”>www.daratalfunun.org

phone:

64643251

description:

www.daratalfunun.org

The Circus Festival

Tuesday, November 30 - Thursday, July 31

10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

category:

Festivals

city:

location:

The Children’s Museum
Al Hussein Parks

admission:

Ticket

contact:

email:

eman.suhiemat

website:

phone:

065411479

description:

We are pleased to welcome you to the 2nd Children’s Museum Jordan Circus festival 2008 to be held from July 1-30th at the Children’s Museum Jordan. This year’s Circus festival includes a circus camp for children between 6-14 years old, and 3 public performances at Al Hussein parks Amphitheater .
During the camp ,Children will learn a variety of circus skills including juggling different items such as plates, diablos, and balls, the trapeze, tight rope and unicycle, and even how to become a clown.

TEATCHERS BIOGRRAPHIES
Zany Umbrella Circus
The Zany Umbrella Circus is a nouveau styled circus troupe based out of the United States of America.
They specialize in physical theater punctuated with clowning, balancing, juggling, aerial acrobatics and
eccentric original music make each show a memorable event for the whole family.
They have performed for esteemed events such as the Three Rivers Arts Festival, First Night Binghamton,
NY, First Night St. Louis, the National Story Telling Convention, the Pittsburgh International Children’s
Festival, and the International Council on Foundations, and various Children’s Museums in America.
So Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages step right up and meet some of the most remarkable performers the circus has ever known!!!!!

Edward Said: The Last Interview

Tuesday, November 30 - Tuesday, November 30

7:30 PM - 10:00 PM

category:

Art & Culture

city:

Amman

location:

Jabal al Weibdeh - Saadi Str
Oppesite to Luzmila Hospital

admission:

Free

contact:

Huzaima Basheer

email:

darat

website:

www.daratalfunun.org ” title=”click here to visit organizer’s website”>www.daratalfunun.org

phone:

64643251

description:

A documentary by Mike Dibb

Film in English

Edward Said was born in Jerusalem in 1935. Internationally acclaimed for his books on literature and on the intersection of politics and culture, Said was the most prominent spokesman for the Palestinian cause outside of the Middle East in addition to being an accomplished musician.
www.daratalfunun.org

“Still together” by the late artist Ismail Shammout and Tamam Al Akhal

Tuesday, November 30 - Tuesday, November 30

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM

category:

Art & Culture

city:

Amman

location:

Jabal al weibdeh - Al-Muntazah circle - Husni Fareez street.
Except Tuesdays and Fridays.

admission:

Ticket

contact:

email:

info

website:

www.nationalgallery.org” title=”click here to visit organizer’s website”>www.nationalgallery.org

phone:

064630128

description:

Opening at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts an exhibition entitled “Still Together” by the late artist Ismail Shammout and Tamam Al Akhal, which presents artworks of oil by both artists.This exhibition is in the memory of the late artist Ismail Shammout as he is one of the pioneers in the Palestinian fine art.

www.nationalgallery.org

Amman Summer Festival 2008

Tuesday, November 30 - Tuesday, November 30

8:00 PM - 11:00 PM

category:

Festivals

city:

Amman

location:

1. Queen Rania Park in Al- Quiesmeh
2. King Hussein Park in Al- Medina Al- tibieh Street
3. Roman Theater in Down Town

admission:

Free

email:

saba.a

website:

www.ammancity.gov.jo” title=”click here to visit organizer’s website”>www.ammancity.gov.jo

description:

After the huge success Amman summer festival witnessed in 2006and 2007, greater Amman municipality organizes for its 3rd years in a row Amman Summer Festival 2008, The festival offers various musical, cultural, folkloric events in addition to play all free and open to the public, Our shows are so colorful that they can suit all age groups and tastes.

Souk JARA

Tuesday, November 30 - Tuesday, November 30

10:00 AM - 10:00 PM

category:

Art & Culture

city:

Amman

location:

Jabal Amman, First Circle, JARA Street (Fawzi Malouf Street)

admission:

Free

contact:

Jabal Amman Residents Association

email:

backstage

website:

n/a

phone:

n/a

description:

SOUK JARA is a public event with a variety of activities for you, your family and your friends.
SOUK JARA Market: A wide variety of good deals; handicrafts, antiques, homemade items and many more.
SOUK JARA Cafe: Food, beverages & Shisha.
SOUK JARA Theater: Musical Concerts, short films screened by the Royal Film Commission.
SOUK JARA Games: New games for kids and adults. Contact Number 0776732209

Looking for some happening that occurs sometime after this week? Why not lookup something fun on our Jordanian calendar of events page?