Chancel Rail Columns and Slab

These two barrier columns and slap are made of Moses stone (bitumen), dating from the late 6th century AD. Columns have a nearly cubic body with a conical top resembling a pinecone along two sides of the body, there is a long groove to secure a barrier panel. While slabs are decorated with crosses carved in bas-relief within interwoven circles. The stone, locally known as Hajar Musa, is believed, according to popular mythology, to have gained the ability to ignite itself due to the passage of the Prophet Moses through the Madaba region. The legend says, “Madaba’s water comes from its wells and its fire from its stones.” Moses stone is commonly used to make church barriers because of its ease of shaping, and it is usually sourced from the area around Mount Nebo, near Madaba. The barrier columns are part of the chancel rail, which separates the chancel—the sacred area around the altar—from the rest of the church. The carved cross and decorative pine-cone-shaped top align with the ornate and symbolic designs often found in chancel rails. The groove on the column would have secured a panel or railing, emphasizing the division between the congregation and the clergy while maintaining a visual connection. Its construction from Moses stone also ties it to the region’s religious and cultural identity, adding significance to its role in the liturgical space.

Discovered at Rujm Al Kursi

On Loan From Jordan University Archaeological Museum