Latest news with #Justinian
NDTV
10-06-2025
- Science
- NDTV
1,500-Year-Old Madaba Mosaic Map Helps Archaeologists Find Lost City Of Tharais In Jordan
Archaeologists have identified the lost city of Tharais near Jordan's Dead Sea. The discovery is based on the 1,500-year-old Madaba Mosaic Map, revealing its location. Excavations uncovered evidence of a vibrant Christian community and economic activity. A remarkable archaeological breakthrough has brought the lost city of Tharais, a Byzantine-era settlement, back into the spotlight. Guided by the 1,500-year-old Madaba Mosaic Map, a team of researchers has uncovered what they believe to be the remnants of this ancient city near the southeastern edge of Jordan's Dead Sea, Popular Mechanics reported. The discovery, detailed in the journal Gephyra, reveals a vibrant Christian community with a self-sustaining economy, offering new insights into the region's historical and cultural tapestry. Recognised as the oldest surviving cartographic depiction of the Holy Lands, the Madaba Mosaic Map was crafted during the reign of Emperor Justinian (527–565 A.D.). The map illustrates 157 biblical and historical sites, many of which remain undiscovered. Among these is Tharais, a city from the Byzantine Empire that had eluded archaeologists until recently. The map, with its intricate details of settlements, rivers, and landmarks, served as a critical starting point for the research team led by Musallam R. al-Rawahneh, an associate professor at Mutah University specialising in archaeology and ancient Near Eastern studies. From 2021 to 2024, the team combined the ancient map's clues with modern tools to locate Tharais, narrowing their search to an area near the modern city of El-'Iraq. Unearthing Tharais The expedition was no small feat. The team used the Madaba Mosaic Map along with contemporary maps, satellite imagery, and field surveys. They uncovered compelling evidence of an ancient settlement near El-'Iraq after finding mosaic floors, glassware, and tools. Among the most significant finds was a structure resembling a Byzantine basilica, characterised by an open-air central hall. Collaborations with Spanish and French institutions further enriched the discovery, as researchers identified Greek and Latin funerary inscriptions, indicating a Christian presence. A doorway consistent with Byzantine church architecture reinforced the site's religious significance. "The prominence of Tharais on the Madaba Map and the discovery of a basilica church structure suggest that it served not only as an agricultural village but also as a sacred site and commercial rest stop," Mr Al-Rawahneh said in a Turkiye Today report. Not just a religious centre, Tharais was also economically robust. Excavations revealed olive oil presses, windmills, and grape-crushing equipment, suggesting the city was self-sufficient and engaged in agricultural production. The team plans to protect Tharais from the rapid urbanisation affecting El-'Iraq, preserving its historical significance for future generations. "Our aim is not just to uncover Tharai, but also to advocate for the protection of Jordan's rich cultural heritage," Mr Al-Rawahneh explained.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A 1,500-Year-Old Map Helped Researchers Find a Lost Byzantine City
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Researchers recently found one of the many lost Holy Land cities in Jordan. The team used maps and field surveys to identify the site. Experts believe the lost city Tharais wasn't just an agricultural village—it may have also been a spiritual hub. The Madaba Mosaic Map is perhaps the most famous geographical masterpiece of the ancient Near East. Believed to have been built during Emperor Justinian's reign (527-565 A.D.), the tile art piece is the oldest surviving map of Jordan's Holy Lands. The map is located in Madaba, Jordan, and depicts a total of 157 sites—many of which have yet to be found. One of the many lost cities is a place called Tharais, which dates all the way back to the Byzantine Empire. And researchers might have just found it. Starting in 2021, a research team led by Musallam R. al-Rawahneh—an associate professor of archeology and ancient Near East studies at Mutah University—began looking for Tharais. The field project lasted until 2024, and the team recently published their findings in the journal Gephyra. Finding a lost city is no easy task, and researchers had to use several different methods to track down Tharais. Maps, including both the Madaba Mosaic and more contemporary maps, gave researchers a starting baseline. They then conducted a field survey near a modern city near the southeastern edge of the Dead Sea called El-'Iraq. There, researchers found remnants of mosaic floors, glassware, and various tools—all compelling evidence that that was where Tharais once thrived. Most notably, the team uncovered features resembling a Byzantine basilica—an oblong building with an open-air central room. Collaborative efforts with other institutions from Spain and France added further evidence to the scene when researchers discovered Greek and Latin funerary inscriptions. These inscriptions suggest the existence of a Christian community in the area, supporting the theologic identity of the site. A doorway consistent with architecture in Byzantine churches was also found, further affirming the site's supposed history. In short: all signs point toward religion. 'The prominence of Tharais on the Madaba Map and the discovery of a basilica church structure suggest that it served not only as an agricultural village but also as a sacred site and commercial rest stop,' al-Rawahneh said in a Türkiye Today report. And according to the team, the presence of religion didn't weaken the city's economy. The presence of olive oil presses, windmills, and grape crushing equipment suggests that Tharais was economically self-sustaining. Perhaps the most convincing indications of the site's true identity are the parallels between the structures found by the researchers and the Madaba Mosaic Map. The arrangement of gates, ruins, and even towers closely match the map's depiction of the lost city. As for the future of Tharais, the team says that they wish to preserve the area from El-'Iraq's rapid urbanization. 'Our aim is not just to uncover Tharais,' Al-Rawahneh explained in the report, 'but also to advocate for the protection of Jordan's rich cultural heritage.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
eNCA
04-06-2025
- General
- eNCA
Five things to know about the St Catherine monastery in Egypt's Sinai
Nestled in the Sinai mountains, the ancient St Catherine's Monastery has been the centre of recent tensions after an Egyptian court ruled last week that it sat on state-owned land. Dating back to the sixth century BC, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is the world's oldest continuously inhabited monastery, attracting hundreds of pilgrims and tourists every year. Following warnings from the authorities and Orthodox Church in Greece that the ruling threatens the monastery's status, a government delegation is travelling from Athens to Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the situation. - World's oldest monastery - The monastery was founded by Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the sixth century at the biblical site of the burning bush at the foot of Mount Sinai, where Moses was believed to have received the 10 commandments, according to the world's three major monotheistic religions. It was named for Saint Catherine of Alexandria, whose remains are housed in the church, along with rare iconography and manuscripts. It is headed by the Archbishop of Mount Sinai and Raithu, under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. According to UNESCO, "the entire area is of immense spiritual significance" to Christianity, Islam and Judaism. The organisation says the monastery is "the property of the Greek Orthodox Church and belongs to the Archdiocese of Sinai". - Ownership dispute - Last Wednesday, an Egyptian appeals court ruled that the monastery "is entitled to use" the land and the archaeological religious sites dotting the area, all of which "the state owns as public property". The ruling, only a brief of which has been published by Egyptian media, has drawn criticism from the Orthodox patriarchates in Athens, Jerusalem and Istanbul. Archbishop Ieronymos, head of the Greek Orthodox church in Athens, warned the monastery's property could now be "seized and confiscated". Egypt has defended the court ruling, saying it "consolidates" the site's sacred status. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Egypt was "fully committed to preserving the unique and sacred religious status of Saint Catherine's monastery", in a phone call with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Mitsotakis meanwhile emphasised the importance of "preserving the pilgrimage and Greek Orthodox character of the monastery". The delegation from Athens is expected to lay out its position on Wednesday. According to Greece's state news agency, that position "is supported by a UNESCO document, which proves that Egypt had acknowledged in writing since 2002 that the ownership of the land and buildings belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church and the Archdiocese of Sinai". - Megaproject - Construction began in March 2021 in the Saint Catherine area, which includes the eponymous town and a nature reserve, for a government megaproject known as the 'Great Transfiguration' of Saint Catherine. The project aims to bring upwards of a million tourists a year to the serene mountain village. Its many construction projects include an events hall, hundreds of hotel rooms and a new residential area housing hundreds of units. Observers say the project has harmed the reserve's ecosystem and threatened both the monastery and the local community. According to a report by World Heritage Watch, the project has "destroyed the integrity of this historical and biblical landscape". UNESCO in 2023 requested that Egypt "halt the implementation of any further development projects", conduct an impact evaluation and develop a conservation plan. The government, which is campaigning for former tourism and antiquities minister Khaled al-Enany to head UNESCO from October, said in January that 90 percent of the project was complete. - Visitors - The peaks and valleys around Saint Catherine attract large groups of hikers, peaking at 2,000 visitors to Mount Sinai in a single day last December, local authorities reported. The area, 1.5 kilometres above sea level, is particularly popular with both Egyptians and foreign tourists seeking a reprieve from overcrowded Red Sea resorts elsewhere in Sinai. - Bedouin tribe - The area is home to the Jabaliya tribe, whose name derives from the Arabic word for "mountain". Said to be the descendants of the Roman soldiers who came to guard the monastery in its early days, they maintain a close connection to Saint Catherine, with many working as tour guides today. For decades, they have been calling for better infrastructure, including reliable water supply, emergency services and telecommunications coverage to improve their work and daily life. According to World Heritage Watch, they are currently outnumbered by the thousands of labourers building the megaproject.
France 24
04-06-2025
- General
- France 24
Five things to know about the St Catherine monastery in Egypt's Sinai
Dating back to the sixth century BC, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is the world's oldest continuously inhabited monastery, attracting hundreds of pilgrims and tourists every year. Following warnings from the authorities and Orthodox Church in Greece that the ruling threatens the monastery's status, a government delegation is travelling from Athens to Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the situation. World's oldest monastery The monastery was founded by Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the sixth century at the biblical site of the burning bush at the foot of Mount Sinai, where Moses was believed to have received the 10 commandments, according to the world's three major monotheistic religions. It was named for Saint Catherine of Alexandria, whose remains are housed in the church, along with rare iconography and manuscripts. It is headed by the Archbishop of Mount Sinai and Raithu, under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. According to UNESCO, "the entire area is of immense spiritual significance" to Christianity, Islam and Judaism. The organisation says the monastery is "the property of the Greek Orthodox Church and belongs to the Archdiocese of Sinai". Ownership dispute On Friday, an Egyptian appeals court ruled that the monastery "is entitled to use" the land and the archaeological religious sites dotting the area, all of which "the state owns as public property". The ruling, only a brief of which has been published by Egyptian media, has drawn criticism from the Orthodox patriarchates in Athens, Jerusalem and Istanbul. Archbishop Ieronymos, head of the Greek Orthodox church in Athens, warned the monastery's property could now be "seized and confiscated". Egypt has defended the court ruling, saying it "consolidates" the site's sacred status. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Egypt was "fully committed to preserving the unique and sacred religious status of Saint Catherine's monastery", in a phone call with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Mitsotakis meanwhile emphasised the importance of "preserving the pilgrimage and Greek Orthodox character of the monastery". The delegation from Athens is expected to lay out its position on Wednesday. According to Greece's state news agency, that position "is supported by a UNESCO document, which proves that Egypt had acknowledged in writing since 2002 that the ownership of the land and buildings belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church and the Archdiocese of Sinai". Megaproject Construction began in March 2021 in the Saint Catherine area, which includes the eponymous town and a nature reserve, for a government megaproject known as the 'Great Transfiguration' of Saint Catherine. The project aims to bring upwards of a million tourists a year to the serene mountain village. Its many construction projects include an events hall, hundreds of hotel rooms and a new residential area housing hundreds of units. Observers say the project has harmed the reserve's ecosystem and threatened both the monastery and the local community. According to a report by World Heritage Watch, the project has "destroyed the integrity of this historical and biblical landscape". UNESCO in 2023 requested that Egypt "halt the implementation of any further development projects", conduct an impact evaluation and develop a conservation plan. The government, which is campaigning for former tourism and antiquities minister Khaled al-Enany to head UNESCO from October, said in January that 90 percent of the project was complete. Visitors The peaks and valleys around Saint Catherine attract large groups of hikers, peaking at 2,000 visitors to Mount Sinai in a single day last December, local authorities reported. The area, 1.5 kilometres (one mile) above sea level, is particularly popular with both Egyptians and foreign tourists seeking a reprieve from overcrowded Red Sea resorts elsewhere in Sinai. - Bedouin tribe - The area is home to the Jabaliya tribe, whose name derives from the Arabic word for "mountain". Said to be the descendants of the Roman soldiers who came to guard the monastery in its early days, they maintain a close connection to Saint Catherine, with many working as tour guides today. For decades, they have been calling for better infrastructure, including reliable water supply, emergency services and telecommunications coverage to improve their work and daily life. According to World Heritage Watch, they are currently outnumbered by the thousands of labourers building the megaproject.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Five things to know about the St Catherine monastery in Egypt's Sinai
Nestled in the Sinai mountains, the ancient St Catherine's Monastery has been the centre of recent tensions after an Egyptian court ruled last week that it sat on state-owned land. Dating back to the sixth century BC, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is the world's oldest continuously inhabited monastery, attracting hundreds of pilgrims and tourists every year. Following warnings from the authorities and Orthodox Church in Greece that the ruling threatens the monastery's status, a government delegation is travelling from Athens to Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the situation. - World's oldest monastery - The monastery was founded by Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the sixth century at the biblical site of the burning bush at the foot of Mount Sinai, where Moses was believed to have received the 10 commandments, according to the world's three major monotheistic religions. It was named for Saint Catherine of Alexandria, whose remains are housed in the church, along with rare iconography and manuscripts. It is headed by the Archbishop of Mount Sinai and Raithu, under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. According to UNESCO, "the entire area is of immense spiritual significance" to Christianity, Islam and Judaism. The organisation says the monastery is "the property of the Greek Orthodox Church and belongs to the Archdiocese of Sinai". - Ownership dispute - On Friday, an Egyptian appeals court ruled that the monastery "is entitled to use" the land and the archaeological religious sites dotting the area, all of which "the state owns as public property". The ruling, only a brief of which has been published by Egyptian media, has drawn criticism from the Orthodox patriarchates in Athens, Jerusalem and Istanbul. Archbishop Ieronymos, head of the Greek Orthodox church in Athens, warned the monastery's property could now be "seized and confiscated". Egypt has defended the court ruling, saying it "consolidates" the site's sacred status. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Egypt was "fully committed to preserving the unique and sacred religious status of Saint Catherine's monastery", in a phone call with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Mitsotakis meanwhile emphasised the importance of "preserving the pilgrimage and Greek Orthodox character of the monastery". The delegation from Athens is expected to lay out its position on Wednesday. According to Greece's state news agency, that position "is supported by a UNESCO document, which proves that Egypt had acknowledged in writing since 2002 that the ownership of the land and buildings belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church and the Archdiocese of Sinai". - Megaproject - Construction began in March 2021 in the Saint Catherine area, which includes the eponymous town and a nature reserve, for a government megaproject known as the 'Great Transfiguration' of Saint Catherine. The project aims to bring upwards of a million tourists a year to the serene mountain village. Its many construction projects include an events hall, hundreds of hotel rooms and a new residential area housing hundreds of units. Observers say the project has harmed the reserve's ecosystem and threatened both the monastery and the local community. According to a report by World Heritage Watch, the project has "destroyed the integrity of this historical and biblical landscape". UNESCO in 2023 requested that Egypt "halt the implementation of any further development projects", conduct an impact evaluation and develop a conservation plan. The government, which is campaigning for former tourism and antiquities minister Khaled al-Enany to head UNESCO from October, said in January that 90 percent of the project was complete. - Visitors - The peaks and valleys around Saint Catherine attract large groups of hikers, peaking at 2,000 visitors to Mount Sinai in a single day last December, local authorities reported. The area, 1.5 kilometres (one mile) above sea level, is particularly popular with both Egyptians and foreign tourists seeking a reprieve from overcrowded Red Sea resorts elsewhere in Sinai. - Bedouin tribe - The area is home to the Jabaliya tribe, whose name derives from the Arabic word for "mountain". Said to be the descendants of the Roman soldiers who came to guard the monastery in its early days, they maintain a close connection to Saint Catherine, with many working as tour guides today. For decades, they have been calling for better infrastructure, including reliable water supply, emergency services and telecommunications coverage to improve their work and daily life. According to World Heritage Watch, they are currently outnumbered by the thousands of labourers building the megaproject. bha/sof/jsa/cms
