Things to see and do Dead Sea And Kings Road

Installed in ancient houses, some of which have mosaics, this archaeological museum presents a rather rich collection. The most interesting mosaics show a naked satyr next to a bacchante dancing with cymbals and another shows a lamb next to a tree. The museum also houses archaeological remains (amphorae, weapons), as well as a section dedicated to Bedouin folklore and local crafts (carpets, chests, weapons).

Less than 2 km north of the fortified city, an ancient tower intrigue specialists. It is 15 m high and has neither a door nor a staircase, but a few windows at the top level. Perhaps she was once inhabited by the first Christian monks who found the solitude necessary for their meditation. Today, you won't see more of the building, but we can go there to feel the special atmosphere that emerges from the place. The remains of a church are scattered not far away.

Like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, this place was the scene of some of the most dramatic events in the Old Testament, including the story of Abraham's nephew Lot. According to legend, his wife was turned into a statue of salt for disobeying God. She turned around in her flight to see Sodom in flames. The Bible records that Lot and his two daughters survived and found refuge in a cave near the small town of Zoar (Gawr as-Safi today). Lot's daughters gave birth to sons whose descendants would become the Ammonites and Moabites. Their kingdoms were located in what is now central Jordan. Byzantine Christians built a church dedicated to St. Lot in the sixth century on a hillside above the city. The famous Madaba mosaic, which depicts a map of Palestine, clearly places ancient Zoar on the site of present-day Gawr as-Safi. On the other hand, the two words Zoar and Segor are equivalent, and mean "small", one in Syriac, the other in Hebrew. It is therefore quite likely that the cave near Gawr as-Safi is the one once occupied by Abraham's nephew. The church was discovered by teams of archaeologists a few years ago. It seems to have been abandoned in the middle of the 8th century, probably after the great earthquake that shook the region. The cave and the monastery can be visited.

Hot water rich in sulphur, potassium chloride and soda ash gushes out of the mountains of Wadi Zarqaa from a 45-metre high waterfall. These springs have been known since antiquity for their virtues, notably for their effect on rheumatism. The entrance fee gives you access to the small natural hot water pool located under the waterfall (on the right of the entrance, going down). Jordanian families come here to relax on weekends. If it is a bit expensive, the place is really magical and perfect to relax after a hike.

This mosaic that decorated the hall of a private villa of the sixth century is known since 1902. The owner of the house discovered it while digging foundations. But this discovery was partial and the entire fresco was not uncovered until 1982, when excavations were carried out in the entrance of the nearby Church of the Virgin Mary. It is unique in Jordan and refers to the tragedy of Phaedra. The fresco consists of three panels. The first panel depicts the hunt, of which Artemis was the Greek goddess. The four seasons are represented in the four corners of the panel. The second panel represents Phaedra and Hippolyta, symbolizing guilty passion. The third panel depicts the goddess Aphrodite, seated next to Adonis, wielding a spear while threatening a cherub. In the upper left-hand corner, three women, accompanied by sea monsters, symbolize three cities: Rome, Gregoria and Madaba.

The themes addressed and the characters represented are all taken from the tragedy of Euripides. Hippolytus is the son of Theseus and an Amazon. When the latter dies, Theseus marries Phaedra. Hippolyte devotes a worship to Artemis, and like her, chooses the way of chastity. Aphrodite tries to seduce Hippolyte, who despises her. To take revenge, she casts a spell on Phèdre, who will fall in love with her son-in-law. She makes advances to him, but he rejects her. In despair, she commits suicide, leaving a letter accusing Hippolyte of having tried to seduce her. Thésée banishes his son.

Excavations carried out in 1920 in these two villages revealed an important fortress which would have been inhabited from 3200 to 1900 BC. The evidence of a sudden abandonment suggests that these were the biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The ruins are, however, unspectacular. In both cases, the interiors of the dwellings have revealed a layer of ash and walls tilted by an external force. In Numeira, the remains of a fallen tower also remain.

12 km south of the Mövenpick Hotel, a little after crossing the bridge over Wadi Zarqa, the river that feeds the springs of Hammamat Ma'in. Herod used to come here to treat his rheumatism. A small archaeological site was unearthed in 1807 including the remains of a port and Roman baths. It is possible to bathe (free of charge) in the Dead Sea by going down under the bridge that spans Wadi Zarqa and rinsing in the natural pools of the river (non-drinking water). Beware, the site is very busy on Friday and Saturday.

This is one of the places where, during the Exodus, the patriarch is said to have struck a stone with his staff to bring forth water. There is another Ayun Musa in Egypt, in the Sinai, and the two countries dispute the authorship of the biblical event. A very thin stream of water cascades down between the mosses of a rock face. You'll know you've found the source by the rubbish that lies on the ground. You will discover the unspectacular remains of a Roman road, tombs dug into the rock and some Byzantine buildings

Fifa is a 27 km2 reserve located south of the Dead Sea on the border with Israel. It is located at the lowest point on the planet, 426 meters below sea level. This subtropical oasis is a godsend in this arid region. It provides a haven for many migratory birds and endangered endemic plant species. It also attracts animals that roam the plains of the Wadi Araba desert, including the Syrian wolf and the caracal.

The Church of the Lions is the only one on the site of Umm ar-Rasas that has three apses. The central apse housed the choir, which was situated on a raised platform that is still present. The nave was lined with a mosaic, of which a few pieces remain. These are protected from erosion and light by a thick covering of sand. A representation of Kastron Meefaa, the ancient name of Umm ar-Rasas, has been found between two columns, but the most beautiful fragment is that of two lions framing a tree, hence the name of the church.

Under the guise of a museum-restaurant, this centre is more commercial than cultural. It can nevertheless constitute an interesting stage with young children. Scenes of ordinary Bedouin tribal life are recreated here with mannequins. One can see the baker baking his bread or the interior of a Bedouin tent, traditional costumes and models representing Petra, the Tower of Babel or a scene from the Nativity. Handicrafts are also represented, especially mosaics, where local women work before your eyes.

This museum is the result of research by the Hellenic Society for Near Eastern Studies, the association in charge of archaeological studies at Gawr as-Safi. As its name does not seem to indicate - the museum is not interested in the lowest point of the planet - the establishment exhibits the product of the excavations undertaken at the sanctuary of Lot. The 22 display cases showcase artifacts found there, such as pottery and clothing from the Greco-Roman period.

Built in the ^6th century on the ruins of an ancient Roman temple and adjoining the villa of Hippolytus, this church contains a mosaic featuring an inscription in homage to the Blessed Virgin dating from 662. It reads: " If you wish to look upon Mary, the virginal mother of God, and upon the Christ she bore, the universal Lord, the only Son of the only God, purify your mind, your flesh and your works. May you purify God's creatures through prayer

The remains of this early 7th century Byzantine church are located in the Archaeological Park, west of the Church of the Virgin Mary. It is named after the medallion bearing the name of the prophet Elijah, which can be seen in the nave. This was once decorated with a peacock. The crypt is located under the altar and was connected to the nave by two staircases. It would be older than the church and dates back to 595. It is composed of a simple apse with 3 niches.

The fortress of Macheronte was built under the orders of Alexander Jannaeus, Hasmonean king of Judea, around 100 BC, on a conical hill 700 meters above sea level. The vantage point was ideal for spotting possible threats from the east, and the rugged terrain made attacks difficult. This did not prevent general Gabinius, working on behalf of the Roman emperor Pompey, from destroying the citadel. It was rebuilt by Herod the Great around 30 A.D., who added a sumptuous palace within its walls. According to the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, it was here that St. John the Baptist was taken after his arrest. He remained locked up in the fortress for two years, before being beheaded at Salome's request. John the Baptist had denounced the marriage of King Herod Antipas to his sister-in-law Herodias. According to Jewish law, a man cannot marry his brother's wife while the latter is still alive. Herod Antipas was captivated by the dancing talents of his daughter-in-law Salome (the famous dancer of the 7 veils), and promised to fulfill his most cherished wishes, provided she did the deed for him. Urged on by her revenge-hungry mother, she asked for John the Baptist's head.

During the Jewish Revolt (c. 66-70), whole waves of rebels fleeing the sacking of Jerusalem by the Romans took refuge in Macheronte. According to Pliny the Elder, the fortress was totally impregnable. In 72, however, it fell victim to a siege and was razed to the ground by the Romans, who left only the foundations.

Today, there's nothing impressive about the ruins themselves: a few walls, traces of the foundations and the remains of an ancient bathhouse can barely be seen to the east of the site. It was here that Jordan's oldest mosaic was found, now on display at the Madaba Museum. On the other hand, the site, the shape of the hill topped by the remains of the fortress are well worth a visit, as are the views and the atmosphere, as the place is inhabited by shepherds walking their flocks of goats and sheep. Access is via a path winding along the hillside. Take the 10-15 minute walk to the top, and you'll be rewarded with a superb panorama of the Dead Sea, stretching all the way to Jerusalem on a clear day. Along the way and in the surrounding area, you'll no doubt notice a number of caves: according to legend, it was in one of them that John the Baptist was beheaded, and his head carried to Salome on a platter.

The remains of the church of Saint-Loth-and-Procopius are the most spectacular. The superb mosaics representing trees, domestic or mythological animals dating from 560 are now protected under a shed. The black trace on the main mosaic was left by a bread oven, as a house was built on top of this church. The site contains the remains of three other churches, a monastery and an ancient citadel (a little higher up).

The church of Bishop Sergius is reached after crossing the church of Saint Stephen. Here the pavement is much more modest artistically speaking, because the iconoclasts erased the human faces. Nevertheless, the names of the generous donors remain, as well as pastoral scenes: a farmer leading his grapes to the press, birds hunting, harvesting... The four seasons are represented in the corners of the carpet, from which the Virginia creeper spills out to form a frieze.

According to the excavations of Belgian archaeologists who are gradually revealing the history of the site, rock shelters in the vicinity were inhabited by prehistoric man. Flints have been found there, the oldest of which are over 150,000 years old! Scrapers, chisels and other tools have also been brought up from deep in the ground. Pottery, an olive press and tools attest to the presence of a sedentary village in the Bronze Age. The dwellings consisted of a single room, with the exception of some slightly larger houses with several rooms. The site was later inhabited by the Moabites in the 11th and 12th centuries BC, and later by the Nabataeans, as evidenced by the ruins of a temple and the engravings they left behind. A Nabatean woman's grave has also been found; she was buried with pottery, beaded necklaces, her earrings and a bracelet. The Romans left behind a temple and the city's fortifications. The Umayyads then occupied the area, as the remains of a 15th-century fortress seem to indicate. Finally, the Ottomans were the last occupants before the city was abandoned by Sultan Suleiman, who gave it to the Saleitha tribe. Don't expect sumptuous ruins, but a few piles of stones popping up here and there. On the other hand, the road winding between the curved hills is simply phenomenal. You will feel like you are walking on the moon.