The 8000 items in the collection include some excellent works from ancient China and Japan, and a colorful and detailed Syrian mosaic from about AD 600.

Apart from the renowned sites including Petra's mystical ruins and the Roman remains of Jaresh, Jordan boasts a wealth of other enchanting gems, from old Bedouin mountain trails and the biblical landscapes around Mount Nebo to the detailed mosaics of Madaba and the unique waters of the Dead Sea.

I was overcome by the beauty of the church with its myriad arches and the high ornate and detailed mosaics of Justinian and Theodora which were unbelievably splendid and glittering in the light of countless lamps.

The Cloister is the most impressive: Think of a palazzo masquerading as a hotel, with architectural touches ranging from fountains to detailed mosaics.

By the end of the war both sides maintained detailed mosaics of the front derived from aerial photography.

An ancient synagogue with detailed mosaics, including the story of Noah, was found beneath a church.