\u00a0Located at the Basilica of San Jorge\u00a0. The Basilica de San Jorge<\/a> stands in Madaba, Jordan, less than 100 km from Jerusalem. While the basilica welcomes thousands of tourists each year, it garners attention not for its architectural splendor or historical significance but for its \u00a0roots\u00a0. Built atop the remains of an ancient Byzantine temple from the 6th century, the basilica houses the \u00a0Madaba map\u00a0, which provides the oldest known cartographic representation of the Holy Land.<\/p>\n In this magnificent mosaic, we can see the Dead Sea adorned with fishing boats, several bridges over the Jordan River, and detailed representations of Jericho, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem, where some of its most iconic structures are located. Notably, the ancient city of Tharais also appears in this vibrant tapestry. However, for years, historians have struggled to pinpoint its location, facing an apparently unresolvable mystery.<\/p>\n This question may seem trivial, yet the exact location of the ancient Byzantine city has sparked substantial academic debate. For many years, archaeologists focused their efforts in Jordan, albeit without a clear sense of where to search. Some even suggested regions as distant as Dhat Rass<\/a>. However, led by Musallam al-Rawahneh<\/a>, a team of researchers from the University of Mutah embarked on a quest to resolve this enduring mystery.<\/p>\n Using modern archaeological methods combined with valuable insights gleaned from the Madaba mosaic map<\/a> and various clues found on the ground, the team focused their efforts on a specific locale: the area surrounding El-\u00b4iraq, west of Karak.<\/p>\n “We discovered so many ceramic pieces near El-\u00b4iraq that we knew we were close to the settlement,” Professor Al-Rawahneh stated in comments reported by The Green Compass<\/em>. Significantly, this site aligned much more closely with the topographical details noted on the map than theories suggesting Tharais was located in Dhat Ras. “That theory simply does not fit. On the Madaba map, Tharais appears near AI (formerly known as Aiy). There are no Byzantine churches there,” he elaborated.<\/p>\n Confident in their findings, Al-Rawahneh and his team conducted further studies in the area between 2021 and 2024. Their excavations yielded increasing amounts of conclusive evidence, including mosaic fragments, ancient tools, and glassware. Among their discoveries were noteworthy remnants such as columns, doors, and additional mosaics, inviting speculation of a Byzantine basilica that fits the identity of Tharais depicted in the Madaba map.<\/p>\n![\"Madaba](\"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/On-the-ground-of-a-temple.jpeg\"\/)
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNarrowing Down the Search<\/h2>\n
When the Pieces Fit Together<\/h2>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753665534_813_On-the-ground-of-a-temple.jpeg\"\/)
\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe Eureka Moment<\/h2>\n