Mount Nebo

Modern sculpture of Moses' staff at Mt. Nebo. Photo Jef Maion.
See all 40 photos in our Mount Nebo Photo Gallery.

View of the Promised Land from Mount Nebo. Photo Templar1307.

Today's visitors to Mt. Nebo can view the Promised Land just as Moses
did thousands of years ago. Photo N Creatures.

The Memorial Church of Moses on Mount Nebo. Photo David Bjorgen.

Memorial to Moses. Photo Paul Owen.

The Memorial Church of Moses, consisting of a simple shelter over
the ancient ruins. Photo Templar1307.

New altar incorporating an ancient cross. Photo Templar1307.

Mosaic floor of 531 in the New Baptistery. Photo Templar1307.

Boy with spotted camel in the Old Baptistery. Photo Templar1307.

Detail of another Byzantine floor mosaic. Photo Vanessa.

Mosaic in the Theotokos Chapel. Photo Anduze Traveller.

Road leading up Mount Nebo. Photo Paul Owen.

Mount Nebo is a 1,000m (3,300ft) high mountain located 10km/6 mi NW of Madaba in Jordan. It is believed that this is the mountain from which Moses saw the Promised Land before he died.

Mt. Nebo has been an important place of Christian pilgrimage for over 1,600 years. Byzantine mosaics from the early church have recently been uncovered, and a simple modern church has been built over them.

In the Bible

Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land.... Then the Lord said to him, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendents.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it."

And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day on one knows where his grave is. --Deuteronomy 34:1-6

History

In the 4th century AD a sanctuary, mentioned by the pilgrim nun Egeria, was built on Mount Nebo (Fasaliyyeh in Arabic) to honor Moses, probably over the remains of a more ancient structure. The church was finished by 394 AD.

In the 6th century, the church was expanded and transformed into a basilica with a sacristy and new baptistery. The floor mosaics were laid in c.530 AD. By the 7th century, it had been expanded into a large monastic complex and pilgrimage center.

The monastery was still thriving in 1217, but by 1564 it had been abandoned. In 1993, the site was purchased by the Franciscans, who excavated and restored the area.

Today, Mount Nebo is a Franciscan monastery, the headquarters of the Franciscan Archaeological Institute, and a popular stop for pilgrims and tourists.

On March 19, 2000, Pope John Paul II visited the site during his pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He planted an olive tree next to the Byzantine chapel as a symbol of peace.

What to See

Nebo rises at the end of the long chain of mountains skirting the Dead Sea in Jordan. It offers spectacular views of the Promised Land that Moses saw, including the northern shore of the Dead Sea, the dark stripe of the River Jordan in its valley, Jericho on the opposite bank and (weather permitting) the Mount of Olives in the distance.

On the mountain's summit is a modern sculpture by an Italian artist representing Moses' staff and Jesus' words in John 3: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up."

Elements of a triple-apse Byzantine basilica were uncovered by archaeologists in the 1930s, and have been incorporated into the structure of the modern church building, known as the Memorial Church of Moses.

The church is spare and focuses on the archaeological finds and exceptional ancient mosaic floors. Entrance is at the back of the church. On the left, and a full meter lower than the rest of the church, is the Old Baptistery, which has perhaps the most interesting mosaic in Jordan.

This mosaic, which a Greek inscription dates to August 531 AD, 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.

This mosaic was uncovered in 1976 when the mosaic that had been laid over it in 597 was removed for cleaning. (This accounts for the astonishingly pristine condition of the underlying mosaic.) The 597 mosaic now hangs on the wall.

The main hall of the church has a nave and side aisles, with mosaics everywhere. In the aisle and between some columns are fragments of mosaics from 597.

To the right and left hang mosaic panels from the Church of George at Mukhayyat, showing peacocks, a lion, and other animals. One of these dates from 536 and bears an inscription that some believe is the earliest example of Arabic script in Jordan (others argue it is old Aramaic).

In the far right-hand corner of the church, a former funery chapel was transformed into the New Baptistery in 597 AD. A small mosaic panel to the right, which originally was laid on the threshold, wishes "Peace to All."

Next to the New Baptistry, a lovely mosaic cross from the original 4th-century church stands on a modern altar in its original location. A photograph of the Pope praying at the same altar is proudly displayed.

Next to the door as you leave is the Theotokos Chapel, added in the 7th century and carpeted with a mosaic floor of plants and flowers. The apse features a stylized representation of the Temple of Jerusalem and a perfect bright-eyed gazelle, complete with a little bell around its neck.

Quick Facts

Names:	Mount Nebo; Mt Nebo; Siyagha; Moses Memorial Church
Type of site:	Biblical site; Early Christian site; Christian monastery
Faith:	Judaism, Christianity, Islam (mainly Christianity)
Status:	Active
Date:	Church built 394 AD, expanded in 500s AD
Getting there:	Mount Nebo can be reached by taking a bus from Madaba then walking the remaining 4km/2.5mi, or taking a taxi from Madaba.
Hours:	Daily, Apr-Oct: 5am-7pm; Nov-Mar: 7am-5pm
Cost:	½ JD

Map

Below is a location map and aerial view of Mount Nebo. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Jordan Map or get our free Google Earth download.

Guided Biblical Tours in the Holy Land - upcoming tours!

Sources

Rough Guide to Jordan 2 (February 2002), 245-46.
Eyewitness Travel Guide to Jerusalem and the Holy Land, 1st ed.
Jordan Tourism Board.

The Memorial of Moses at Mount Nebo - Franciscan Archaeological Institute
Mount Nebo - Catholic Encyclopedia
Mount Nebo, Jordan - Atlas Tours