During our 1989 trip into Jordan, one excursion was an overnight trip Into the Great Rift Mountains. A steep, winding road took us into the gorge of Wadi Zarqa Ma’in. There are hot springs here and King Herod the Great (the same King Herod who ordered all sons under the age of two killed hoping to murder baby Jesus) spent a few months in the first century AD taking the “cure” to heal his decrepit body. The ruins of King Herod’s palace was just a few kilometers south.

Don’t you agree that there is only one way to learn dry history facts? Visit the source and watch everything spring to life. We looked at this steep terrain and visualized litter bearers carrying obese King Herod up the mountains to his palace, and then down the mountains to the hot springs probably uttering fervant prayers all the way that they didn’t drop him. Or perhaps praying that they did drop him down a gully to his death.

at Ma’in signs where King Herod came for hot springs, Jordan
Ma’in Spa Village was a new health spa/resort center in 1989 but there was really nothing to see. Instead, we literally “soaked” up the historic atmosphere surrounding this isolated area.

Ma’in Spa Village, Jordan
You do want to visit the Madaba Mosaic Map. This map has 2,000,000 pieces of colored stones (I’d like to know who counted them) and is an amazing topographical representation of Biblical Lands. It shows hills, valleys, villages, towns and 6th century landmarks in Jerusalem, labeled the “Holy City.”
The map was created in the 6-7th century AD as a decoration for the floor of a church. You can still visit the Madaba Mosaic Map in the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George built (in 1896) over the remains of the original Byzantine Church the map was created for.

old Jerusalem section of the Madaba map, Jordan 

fish swimming in the Jordan River portion of the Madaba map in Jordan
The Madaba Map is a definite highlight in Jordan. Time for Jordan’s jewel…Petra…
The lowest available Air France fares are here.