Photos: Umm ar Rasas and the Site of the Beheading of John the Baptist

Made an excursion today to Umm ar Rasas, which is a very early Christian community on the east bank of the Jordan River. The site is well managed and has a museum that will soon open as well as a store and cafeteria. The place contains around twenty churches. It became a fortress for the Roman army and its main visible symbol is the Ottoman Tower.

Afterwards, we went to the site where John the Baptist was beheaded. The location is relatively near Madaba and Mount Nebo and is a high desert. It overlooks the Dead Sea and the West Bank. It was quite a trek up the mountain, but the ruins indicated a smaller palace than I imagined. It's main feature seemed to be a large open room where bathing was done and parties were held. I always imagined grand opulence of Herod's playhouse because of the television movies I saw. It gave me plenty to imagine about dragging John to this location and executing him there. It seems more premeditated than the Gospels led me to believe. After the Romans captured it, they defended themselves against marauding bands.

After we passed through Madaba, we took a drive my the American University of Madaba and then past the newly opened campus for the German Jordanian University. Both are impressive places to see.

To see photos of Umm ar Rasas, an old Christian community, and the palace playground for King Herod where John the Baptist was beheaded, click on the link below:

1. Pics of Cemetery and Arches at the early Christian community at Umm ar Rasas
2. Pics of The Church of the Lions, which are written into Mosaics
3. Pics of St. Stephen's Church, the first martyr, and the beautifully preserved mosaics
4. Pics of donkeys after our lunch break at Umm ar Rasas
5. Pics of one of the earliest churches known in Jordan
6. Pics of King Herod's Playground, which became a Roman fortress. It is where John the Baptist was beheaded