Pilgrimage in Early Christian Jordan

An interest in places of pilgrimage is very much a part of the life of many people in the modern world. For Christians, it is the Holy Land that holds specific interest - the area where the events described in the Bible, in both the Old and the New Testament, are located. This volume focuses on early Christian pilgrimage in Jordan, the region east of the Jordan River which has so far been little explored by pilgrims and tourists to the Holy Land. Yet many biblical events are said to have taken place here: Moses' seeing the Promised Land, the ascension of the prophet Elijah, and John the Baptist's ministry and beheading, to name but a few. This book takes an innovative approach to studying these sites. After a general introduction to each site, its biblical significance, and a citation of the relevant biblical sources with commentary, the author lists the literary sources that pertain specifically to early Christian pilgrimage activity. This information is complemented with a description of the early Christian archaeological remains found at the site and their interpretation. Illustrated throughout with maps, plans, and photographs, and including travel directions as well as suggestions about visits to the sites, this volume is made for scholars, pilgrims and tourists with an interest in early Christian and modern pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Table of Contents: Archaeological Periods and Dates; Introduction; Casting out Demons - Gadara (Umm Qays) and Gerasa (Jerash); Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead - Lisbit/al-Istib, Wadi Cherith, and Tall Mar Elyas; The Site of the Baptism and Elijah's Ascension - Bethany Beyond the Jordan; The Memorial of Moses - Mount Nebo; City of Churches and Mosaics - Madaba; Saint Stephen, Deacon and First Christian Martyr - Umm ar-Rasas; The Beheading of John the Baptist - Machaerus/Mukawer; Lot's Cave, Incest, and a Place of Pilgrimage - Dayr 'Ayn 'Abata; The Memorial of Aaron - Jabal Haroun (near Petra); Summary and Conclusions; References; Glossary of Byzantine Churches; Indices.