വിശുദ്ധനാട് തീർത്ഥാടനം - ലോകത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും പഴക്കം ചെന്ന വിശുദ്ധനാടിന്റെ ഭൂപടം

The Madaba Map, created in the 6th century AD, is the oldest surviving geographically-accurate mosaic map of the Holy Land. It was laid on the floor of the early Byzantine church of Saint George in Madaba, Jordan. Composed of over two million tesserae, the map originally depicted an area stretching from Lebanon in the north to the Nile Delta in the south, with Jerusalem at its center. The mosaic is remarkable not only for its artistic quality but also for its historical significance: it shows cities, villages, rivers, mountains, and major biblical sites as they existed in late antiquity, making it an invaluable resource for understanding early Christian geography.

For pilgrims to the Holy Land, the Madaba Map served as a visual guide long before modern maps existed. It highlighted important biblical locations—especially Jerusalem—helping travelers identify routes and sacred places during their journeys. Many modern archaeological discoveries, such as the location of the Nea Church in Jerusalem, were guided by clues preserved in the mosaic, showing its continued usefulness in reconstructing ancient pilgrimage pathways. Even today, the map offers pilgrims and scholars insight into how early Christians understood and navigated the sacred landscape, reinforcing connections between scripture, tradition, and real-world geography.