The Church complex of Petra. 375-600 AD. The complex comprises the Petra Church, the Blue Chapel and Ridge Church. I failed to see the Ridge Church, but took many pictures of the Petra Church with its great mosaics and some of the Blue Chapel or Blue Church. Of the mosaics I often show an original and a heavily edited version, where I changed perspective, orientation, colour.

Interpretation of the mosaics. For the Byzantine viewer, the mosaics would have symbolized God’s domain. In the southern aisle, Earth is surrounded by the oceans. The Seasons rule over time in this world, and Wisdom watches over everything. A Christian element has been added in the form of a pair of birds drinking from a vase: the birds symbolize the Lord’s people taking strength from Christ. The other mosaics, depicting the flora and fauna of the world, as well as man and his works, can be interpreted similarly. Unfortunately, we have only fragments of the wall mosaics. They would have represented the Heavens, and also the figures of Christ, Mary and the Saints, as well as scenes from the scriptures.

For a clear view of the area covered use the map view.