The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-02
FOUND M EXPLORATION.
An Antique Ground Plan or Palestine and
JcrnsnIem Diseevercd nj Mnanbn, In syria.

Jcrutnicm uncovered ht NhunbA, IN SyFih.
At tho last meeting OF the French Academy
NJ. Heron do Villefosso communicated the news
Of the discovery OF an antique mosaic OF tho
highest interest at Madaba, TO tho cast of tho
River Jordan, by tho Rev. Father Klcopas, Soc
rotary TO the Crock Patriarch of Jerusalem.
The mosaic is remarkable as presenting a map
Of Palestine and a part Of Egypt, the scenes Of
tho events recorded in tho Bible. 1t is executed
natives themselves wcro ablo to identify some
Of tho depicted places.
Mountains. rivers. and towns are represented,
and their names arc given In Crock. Some pic
%turosuue details have boon added by the artist,
such ns trees of various species, fishes swimming
in the Milo and tho Jordan, boats sailing on tho
Dead Sea, &c. Tho towns nro Indicated by small
buildings, like those seen on the Pcntingcr's
map. Each city is identified by its characteris-
tics. Hero arc the obclisks Of Ascalon, the clip
tical shaped agora OF LYDIA, tho crcsccnt-like
fountain OF Eloutheropolis, and tho main street
of GAIA loading to u basilica. Hcrodotus mem
lions GAIA as scarcely inferior in size TO Sardis,
the capital Of Lydia.
Among the cities represented, the most inter-
ostlng, Of course, is Jerusalem. The artist has
taken special care In delineating all the details
Of this picture. Here we see clearly character
iSNu bho u lhS bhO
of which are standing above prccipitous rocks,
and tho churches of st. John the Baptist, st.
Zacharias, st. Victor, and st. Philip. The In
scriptions, which arc perfectly legiblo, have
been copied by two Dominican Fathers Of the
School OF Biblical Studies at Jerusalem-the
Rev. +. Vincent and the Rev. +. Lagrangc-who
give n complete description Of the mosaic map.
Besides geographical details. this antique map
indicates the names and situations of the tribes.
Some of tho descriptions arc quite elaborate,
presenting a record Of facts mentioned either in
tho Old Testament or in the Gospels. Others are
even more explanatory in their geographical de-
tails; for instance: "Gcrann, formerly royal
means toward the south"
The Rev: +. Lagrange. points out the close
similitudc between these inscriptions and the In.
formation given by Eusebius's Onomasticon.
In still oil .crs, however, the artist has retained
his own originality of conception.
This mosaic map was discovered while work
men were, engaged in laying the foundations of
aGrcek church, and was found in the substruc-
ture of n primitive basilica. Unfortunately only
n part of the original map has been preserved,
1t must have extended the entire length of tho
primitive church from north to south, but as TO
been determined. The church was constructed
according to the rule prevailing in those times,
and the map was laid SO that the names could
be read whilo proceeding upward from the en-
trance to the altar, east being ut the apex. as
north is now on our maps.
A a short distance from this church the Rev.
+. Kleopas discovered another Inscription re.
lating to, repairs executed by II ceitern at tho
time of Justinian. To this same epoch is at
tributable the important mosaic map, and also
still another, bearing n long Greek native in.
scription, which had been previously discovered
In this same town of Madaba. inside of another
Christian basilica. To this date also belongs
the celebrated mosaic of Kabr- Hiram. discovered
by Ernest Renan, who sent it to tho Louvre at
the time of his scientific mission in Syria.
A smaller mosaic, found in one of the chapcls
south of the basilica, has n close analogy with
this last. Here, also, can be seen, among scrolls
and festoonS of foliage, u man pulling II donkey,
n gazelle, and birds cooling at each other. On tho
map the artist has represented, in the plain
north OF the Dead Sea, two running animals.
whose workmanship suggests the design en-
ployed in kabr-liram Mosaic scenes. The date
of this work is attributed to the great period of
renaissance in art at the time Of Justinian,
whose traces are noticeable all through the
Levant. In the history of this early Christian
art Syria. as Roman remark d. holds the fore
most rank in the Importance of its remains.