E02524: The so-called Madaba Mosaic Map shows a number of labelled places of cult of saints in the Holy Land (mainly monasteries). Found in Madaba (Roman province of Arabia/Jordan). Probably mid-6th c.

The so-called Madaba Mosaic Map records a number of labelled places of cult of saints, and sites associated with biblical stories and miracles. In many entries toponyms are preceded by the particle το. Avi-Yonah and Gatier published the labels as if their actual designations were omitted and the author of the inscription used the singular neuter article τό referring to a presumed neuter word. We prefer to interpret these two letters as the abbreviated word τό(πος)/'place'. Similarly constructed toponyms, lacking definite articles, are extensively used by scribes who drafted documents from the Greek papyri found in Petra (see, for example: P. Petra II, 70-74 for a description of this phenomenon, e.g. τό(πος) Αραμ αλ-Κουαβελ, τό(πος) Μαθ Λελα, etc. See also: P. Petra III, no. 30, v. 217 and others).

In our case one should understand τό(πος) τοῦ δεῖνος as '(holy) place of so-and-so', that is 'memorial shrine' (μνῆμα, μεμόριον or μαρτύριον) or 'monastery' (μοναστήριον), as these places were actually memorial monuments and monumental tombs, and monastic establishments were sometimes built around them.

Among places referring strictly to the cult of saints there are:

1)

Βεθαβαρα
τό(πος) τοῦ ἁγίου Ἰωάννου
τοῦ βαπτίσματος

'Bethabara, (holy) place of the baptism of Saint John.'

Text: I. Jordanie 2, no. 153/8 and Pl. XXI.

The label might denote specifically the place of the baptism of Jesus or generally the place of activity of *John the Baptist (S00020). Betharaba is located to the north of the Dead Sea. The label accompanies an image of a spring with a conch and not a building. For a monastery of John the Baptist near the Jordan River, seen by the Piacenza Pilgrim, see E00452. Eusebius in the Onomasticon (58.18-20; cf. Jerome's translation 59.; 19-21) says: 'Bethabara "beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing" (John 1:28) for repentance, and the place is known and to this day many of the brothers, that is, of the believers, who desire to be reborn receive baptism in that life-giving stream.' The place is also mentioned by Theodosius in his De situ Terrae Sanctae (E07914): 'At the place where our Lord was baptised is a marble column, and on top of it has been set an iron cross. There also is the church of saint John the Baptist, which was built by the emperor Anastasius. It stands high, on great vaulted chambers, because of the Jordan, when it is in flood. The monks who reside at this church each receive six solidi a year from the treasury for their livelihood.' See also E02692.

2)

τό(πος) τοῦ ἁγίου Λ[ώτ]

'(Holy) place of Saint Lot.'

Text: I. Jordanie 2, no. 153/19 and Pl. XXXI.

The label certainly refers to the monastery of Saint Lot, sited at Deir 'Ain Abata, to the northeast of Zoara, at the southeast shore of the Dead Sea (E02664, E02665, E02666). It is probably mentioned by the Vita S. Stephani Sabaitae (16.2): 'He was living with them (...) in the caves of the Arnon, or of Saint Lot, or of Saint Aaron, or beyond the Dead Sea.'

However, prior to the discovery of the monastery at Deir 'Ain 'Abata scholars had different opinions on the identity of the saint mentioned in the lacuna. Schulten restored the name as Α[αρων]/A[aron], Koikylides, Lagrange and others suspended judgement. Gatier argued for the restoration of the name as *Lot (S01234) as his cult flourished at Mount Nebo (see E02557).

3)

τό(πος) τοῦ ἁγίου
Ἐλισαίου

'(Holy) place of Saint Elisha.'

Text: I. Jordanie 2, no. 153/28.

The label refers to a memorial of the Old Testament Prophet *Elisha (S00239) situated near Archelais and Jericho, to the north of the Dead Sea, probably to be connected with E00455 (a fountain of Elisha at Jericho, seen by the Piacenza Pilgrim). The place is mentioned by Josephus (Jewish War 4.8.3): 'There is a fountain by Jericho, that runs plentifully, and is very fit for watering the ground: it arises near the old city which Joshua, the son of Nun, the general of the Hebrews, took the first of all the cities of the land of Canaan by right of war ... it was made gentle, and very wholesome and fruitful, by the prophet Elisha'

4)

τό(πος) τοῦ
Ἰωσήφ

'(Holy) place of Joseph.'

Text: I. Jordanie 2, no. 153/37.

To the north of Jerusalem, near Shechem/Neapolis. As one can conclude from other entries on the map, this *Joseph is the Old Testament Patriarch (S00277), son of Jacob and Rachel, sold into slavery by his brothers and sent to Egypt. Joseph's bones were reportedly taken from Egypt during the Exodus and buried at Shechem. This must be, however, a different place than the tombs of the patriarchs near the oaks at Mamre (close to Bethlehem) seen by the Piacenza Pilgrim (E00489). Eusebius in the Onomasticon (54.23-24; cf. Jerome's translation 55.24-25) says: 'Balanus, that is, the oak, of Shechem, where Abimelech was made king. It is shown in the suburbs of Neapolis, beside the tomb of Joseph.'

5)

ὅπου ἡ πηγὴ
τοῦ Ἰακώβ

'Here is the source of Jacob.'

Text: I. Jordanie 2, no. 153/39.

On the map located to the north of Jerusalem. The label refers to Jacob's Well (i.e. Jacob's Fountain or Well of Sychar). This was reportedly the site where *Jacob (S00280) set his tent when he returned to Shechem/Neapolis from Paddan Aram. It lies near Shechem/Tell Balata (to the north east of the Dead Sea, at quite a distance from Jerusalem). The well has been venerated since at least the 4th c. and a church was built over it. In the 6th c. the church was refurbished by Justinian ($E###). Eusebius in the Onomasticon (164.1-4; cf. Jerome's translation 165.1-4) says: 'Sychar (= Shechem?) before Neapolis, near the field which Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Here, according to John, our Lord and Saviour conversed with the Samaritan woman beside the well, and the place is known to this day. Now a church has been built there.'

6)

ἡ ἁγία πόλις Ἰερουσα[λήμ]

'The holy city of Jerusalem.'

Text: I. Jordanie 2, no. 153/56.

This is the most famous fragment of the map and the image of the city is widely known. The mosaicist shows a number of famous landmarks and cult places of the city, which can be identified with reasonable confidence (though they are not explicitly labelled), including: the Damascus Gate, the Lions' Gate, the Golden Gate, the Sion Gate, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the New Church of the Theotokos (he Nea Ekklesia, founded by the Patriach Elias, completed by the emperor Justinian, and dedicated in 543), the Tower of David, and the Cardo Maximus (central colonnaded street).

7)

τό(πος) τοῦ ἁγίου
Ἰωνᾶ

'(Holy) place of Saint Jonah.'

Text: I. Jordanie 2, no. 153/71.

Located to the west of Jerusalem, near the coast, perhaps at Nabi Yunes near Jiyeh/Prophyreion (but this is in Lebanon while the map suggests a location further south). Jerome in the prologue to his commentary In Ionam says: 'Though others maintain that he (Jonah) was born and buried near Diospolis, that is, Lod, not understanding that the addition "Opher" is meant to distinguish (Geth of Jonah) from the other cities of Geth, which are shown to this day near Eleutheropolis or Diospolis.'

8)

τό(πος) τοῦ ἁγ(ίου) Φιλί[π]-
που. ἔνθα λέγου-
σι βαπτι-
σθῆναι Καν-
δακην τὸν εὐνοῦχον

'(Holy) place of Saint Philip. Here, they say, was baptised Kandake, the eunuch.'

Text: I. Jordanie 2, no. 153/85 and Pl. XXX.

Located to the south of Jerusalem. Next to the label there is an image of a church and a circular water basin (a baptismal font). The label recalls the story of the conversion of an official of the 'Ethiopian' (actually Meroitic) queen called Kanadake in the Scriptures, by *Philip (the Evangelist, S00604), one of the seven deacons, see Acts 8:27. The term kandake was in fact not a personal name, but a title of Meroitic female rulers or consorts of kings. Here it is used as the name of the converted official. Eusebius in the Onomasticon (52.1-4; cf. Jerome's translation 53.2-5) says: 'There is a spring, welling out from the foot of the mountain, being absorbed by the same ground in which it comes forth; and the Acts of the Apostles report that the eunuch of Queen Kandake was baptized here by Philip.'

The site is to be identified possibly with a ruined basilica located c. 6 km to the north of Hebron, at Beth Zur, recorded during the surveys of Claude Conder and Horatio Kitchener in 1874, and of Andreas Mader in 1911-1914 (see Madden 2014, 41, no. 45).

9)

Βεθζαχάρ

τό(πος) τοῦ ἁγίου
Ζαχαρίου

'(Holy) place of Saint Zechariah.'

Text: I. Jordanie 2, no. 153/91 and Pl. XXX.

Located to the south of Jerusalem, probably at Shefelah. The identity of this *Zechariah is not clear. He is probably the father of John the Baptist (S00597), identified by an ea