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- This article is about the city Amman. For the South Indian deity, see Amman (goddess).
Amman (Arabic عمان ʿAmmān), the capital of the Kingdom of Jordan, is a city of more than 1.6 million inhabitants (2000), and is the commercial and administrative centre of Jordan.
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Location of Amman
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| Location | 31°57′ N 35°56′ E |
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| Timezone | GMT +2 (without daylight saving) GMT +3 (with daylight saving) |
Have to see |
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History
Throughout history, Amman has been inhabited by several civilizations. The first civilization on record is during the Neolithic period, around 6500 BC, where archaeological discoveries in Ain Ghazal, located in eastern Amman, showed evidence of not only a settled life but also the growth of artistic work, which suggests that a well-developed civilization inhabited the city at that time.
In the 13th century BC Amman was called Rabbath Ammon or Rabat Amon by the Ammonites (רַבַּת עַמּוֹן, Standard Hebrew Rabbat ʿAmmon, Tiberian Hebrew Rabbaṯ ʿAmmôn). It was later conquered by the Assyrians, followed by the Persians, and then the Greeks. Ptolemy II Philadelphus, the Hellenic ruler of Egypt, renamed it Philadelphia. The city became part of the Nabataean kingdom until AD 106 when Philadelphia came under Roman control and joined the Decapolis - a league of ten cities.
In 324 AD, Christianity became the religion of the empire and Philadelphia became the seat of bishopric during the beginning of the Byzantine era. One of the churches of this period can be seen on the city's Citadel. Philadelphia was renamed to Amman during the Ghassanian era, and flourished under the Ummayads and the Abbasids. It was then destroyed by several earthquakes and natural disasters and remained a small village and a pile of ruins until the Circassians settlement in 1887.
In 1921, Abdullah I chose Amman as seat of his new government, the Emirate of Transjordan, and later as the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Amman remained a small city until 1948, when the population expanded considerably due to an influx of Palestinian refugees. Amman has experienced exceptionally rapid development since 1952 under the leadership of His Majesties King Hussein and King Abdullah.
Residential areas have spread out from the centre of the city to the surrounding hills. For example, several communities thrive in Jerash.
Amman today
King Abdullah I Mosque at night
2002 view of Eastern Amman
2002 picture of Central Amman (downtown)Amman was originally built on seven hills, but it now spans over an area of 19 hills. The main areas of Amman gain their names from the hills on whose slopes they lie. 21st century Amman is one of the most comfortable and relaxed cities in the Middle East, a place where Muslims, Christians and the small number of people from other faiths live together without conflict.
The city's population continues to expand at a dizzying pace (fueled by refugees escaping the tragic events in Palestine and Iraq). During the last 10 years the amount of new building within the city has increased dramatically with new districts of the city being founded at a very rapid pace (particularly so in West Amman), straining the very scarce water supplies of Jordan as a whole.
The older downtown area centered around the old Souk (a colorful traditional market) and the King Hussein Mosque is now completely dwarfed by the sprawling urban areas that surround it but despite the changes much remains of its old character. For those seeking the atmosphere of the Old City, it is best to venture to the district east of Jabal Amman. There, in the bustle of daily life, you can explore the capital's greatest souqs, fine museums, ancient constructions, monuments, and cultural sites.
The Citadel hill of Amman, known as Jabal el Qala, has been inhabited for centuries, important as a military and religious site. It dates back to Roman and Byzantine times, and later work was carried out in the early Islamic era. Remains unearthed at the northern and eastern ends of the Citadel, possibly date back to the Bronze Age. The Citadel also is home to the Temple of Hercules which is said to have been constructed under the Roman empirical ruler Marcus Aurelius who reigned from AD 161-180, is similar to the Temple of Artemis in Jerash.
Philadelphia was a favorite place for Roman soldiers and officials as - like Rome - the city was built on seven hills. Right behind the Roman forum stands a Roman theatre, the largest theatre in Jordan, with room for 6,000 spectators. Thought to have been built between AD 138 and AD 161 by the Roman Emperor Antonius Pius, it is built into the side of the mountain and is still used for sport displays and cultural events.
Amman is also home to some of the grandest mosques in the Middle East. The newest of these is the enormous King Abdullah I Mosque (at left), built between 1982 and 1989. It is capped by a magnificent blue mosaic dome beneath which 3,000 Muslims may offer prayer. The most unusual mosque in Amman is the Abu Darwwish Mosque atop Jabal Ashrafieh. It is covered with an extraordinary black and white chequered pattern and is unique to Jordan. In contrast, the interior is totally free of the black and white scheme. Instead, there are light colored walls and Persian carpets. This religious building was erected by one of Amman's Circassian immigrants.
Around Amman
On the northern outskirts of Amman, the remains of a prehistoric Neolithic settlement have been unearthed. The site, located near Ain Ghazal, dates back to about 6500 BC.
Amman is conveniently located for many of the attractions favoured by tourists visiting the country. It is just 45 minutes by car to several interesting places; the baptism site (Al-Maghtas in Arabic) on the River Jordan where Jesus was believed to have been baptized by John the Baptist, Mount Jordan (where according to Christians, Moses is supposed to have died), and to the unique ultra saline waters of the Dead Sea.
External links
- Amman.com - with history and pictures.
- Kingdom of Jordan Pictures.
- Jordan Planet - Jordanian Blogger Portal.