Tell Mar Elias

On a hilltop in the Ajloun highlands stand the excavated remains of two Byzantine churches, one of them large and cruciform with mosaic floors and a Greek inscription dating it to the sixth century, and local tradition identifies the hill with Tishbe, the home of the prophet Elijah. It has been a Christian pilgrimage site since, and its designation as one of Jordan's official pilgrimage sites for the Jubilee year 2000 raised its profile. The setting is open hilltop with views over the hills.

Background

The hill is a tell, an archaeological mound, lying just beyond the town limits northwest of Ajloun, in the historical region of Gilead. The name Elias renders Elijah in Latin and Arabic, and 1 Kings calls the prophet the Tishbite, a title read as tying him to a town named Tishbe. Tradition places Tishbe at the ruins of Listib, el-Ishtib or el-Istib in Arabic, across a valley from the tell. The two churches belonged to a Byzantine monastery dedicated to Elijah, the smaller one from the 4th-5th century. Jordanian archaeologists have excavated the complex, which includes a baptismal font, a burial site and mosaics with floral and chevron patterns.

Source: Wikipedia, "Tell Mar Elias"

What you'll find

• The cruciform church - the large sixth-century building with its mosaic floors.
• The Greek inscription - the dedication that dates the church.
• The Elijah tradition - the identification of the hill with the prophet's home.
• The hilltop view - the Ajloun highlands spread out around.

When to go

March to May and October to November are the comfortable months. Spring is green in these hills. The site is open at all times.

What to expect

The mosaics are covered for protection much of the time. There is no shade or facility on the hilltop. Interpretation is a single board.

Nearby

Ajloun Castle is south, and Anjara is nearby.

Key facts