Photo Gallery: Mount Nebo

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A spectacular mosaic in the Old Baptistery of the church, which a Greek inscription dates to August 531 AD. It was protected under a plainer mosaic from 597 until 1976. It depicts animals, farmers and hunters in four tableaux surrounded by geometric decoration. At the top, a tethered zebu is protected by a shepherd fighting off a huge lion and a soldier lancing a lioness. Meanwhile, two mounted hunters with dogs spear a bear and a wild boar.

The lower scenes are more peaceful: a shepherd sits under a tree watching his goat and fat-tailed sheep nibble at the leaves. A dark-skinned Persian has an ostrich on a leash, while a boy next to him looks after a zebra and a creature that is either a spotted camel or creatively-imagined giraffe.

Photo Templar1307.