Amman History, Amman biblical Hebrew Rabbath Ammon, ancient Greek Philadelphia, capital and largest city of Jordan. It is the residence of the king and the seat of government. The city is built on rolling hills at the eastern boundary of the ʿAjlūn Mountains, on the small, partly perennial Wadi ʿAmmān and its tributaries.
Amman’s focus of settlement throughout history has been the small high triangular plateau (modern Mount Al-Qalʿah) just north of the wadi. Fortified settlements have existed there since remote antiquity; the earliest remains are of the Chalcolithic Age (c. 4000–c. 3000 BCE). Later the city became capital of the Ammonites, a Semitic people frequently mentioned in the bible; the biblical and modern names both trace back to “Ammon.”
Amman's first municipal council was established in 1909. Amman witnessed rapid growth after its designation as Trans Jordan's capital in 1921, receiving migrations from different Jordanian and Levantine cities, and after several successive waves of refugees: Palestinians in 1948 and 1967; Iraqis in 1990 and 2003; and Syrians since 2011. It was initially built on seven hills but now spans over 19 hills combining 22 areas, which are administered by the Greater Amman Municipality. Areas of Amman have gained their names from either the hills (Jabal) or the valleys (Wadi) they occupy, such as Jabal Lweibdeh and Wadi Abdoun. East Amman is predominantly filled with historic sites that frequently host cultural activities, while West Amman is more modern and serves as the economic center of the city.
The “royal city” taken by King David’s general Joab (II Samuel 12:26) was probably the acropolis atop the plateau. King David sent Uriah the Hittite to his death in battle before the walls of the city so that he might marry his wife, Bathsheba (II Samuel 11); the incident is also a part of Muslim folklore. The population of the Ammonite cities was much reduced under King David. David’s son Solomon (flourished 10th century BCE) had Ammonite wives in his harem, one of whom became the mother of Rehoboam, Solomon’s successor as king of Judah.
Amman declined in later centuries. In the 3rd century BCE it was conquered by Egypt King Ptolemy Philadelphus and he renamed it Philadelphia after himself; the name was retained through Byzantine and Roman times. Philadelphia was a city of the Decapolis Greek: “Ten Cities”, a Hellenistic league of the 1st century BCE–2nd century CE. In 106 CE it was included in the Roman province of Arabia and rebuilt by the Romans; some fine ruins of their rule in this period have survived. Amman's history as a city was unique and astonishing for sure.
Amman Weather:
Amman, the summers are long, hot, arid, and clear and the winters are cold and mostly clear. Over the course of the year.
The hot season lasts for 4.4 months,the cold season lasts for 3.2 months.
Best Restaurants:
Hashem Restaurant Downtown
Hashem is known for serving traditional cuisine for breakfast (Hummus, foul and falafel), a good budget option for quality food, the restaurant is easy to find. There are several seating shades.
Shahrazad Restaurant
If you want to try something new and delicious, you need to try and eat (Arayes and Kabab) from Shahrazad.This restaurant serves this type of cuisine.
Habibah
Once you are in Amman do not miss the Habibah Kunafa. It is unique and nothing like any other Kunafa .The test is delicious when warm and fresh.
Ward Restaurant
Ward is known for serving Arabic & Jordanian cuisine. If you are willing to try any dish, then Ward is your best choice to eat and try the eastren food.
Traditional Jordanian Dishes you Need to Try :
- Mansaf
- Arayes
- Shawarma
- Manakish
- Galayet Bandora
- Fattet Hummus
- Maqluba
- Zarb
- Warak Enab and Kousa Mahshi
- Molokhia
Best Universities in Amman:
- The University of Jordan
- University of Petra
- Al-Zaytoonah University
Places you May visit in Amman:
Al Balad - Downtown Amman
Once you are in Amman, you should never miss visiting Al Balad and having a car tour on the old souk.On Downtown you can see Jordan culture through the street and the shops too. You can read or buy a book from any old library in the town like Hakayah library while drinking Qasab Soukar. After that you can either eat Hummus at Hashem or have your lunch at Shahrazad, you can also have a dish of Kunafah from Habibah.
Roman Theatre - The Roman Theater is the most famous history mark in Amman city
One of the Roman ruins in Amman is the huge Roman theater. It is the most famous landmark in the capital city ‘Amman’. Like any other Roman theatre in the world, it was constructed upon the same three building blocks: the cavea, the orchestra and the scaenae frons. The theater is considered one of the cultural monuments in Amman since many festivals & events are held there because of its size and location.
Jordan Museum
Jordan Museum is located in the dynamic new downtown area of Ras al-‘Ayn. It presents the historical and cultural heritage of Jordan in a series of beautifully designed galleries. The Museum serves as a comprehensive national centre for learning and knowledge that reflects Jordan’s history and culture, and presents in an engaging yet educational way the Kingdom’s historic, antique and heritage property as part of the ongoing story of Jordan’s past, present, and future.
Rainbow Street
If you are bored and want to have a night round walking in Amman, then you can have a round walk on the Rainbow street. Rainbow street is not a normal street, from over there you can see a fascinating view of the Downtown & Amman Citadel, in addition to sitting at one of the cafes on the street.
King Abdullah Mosque
The blue-domed Mosque, built in the 1980s by the late King Hussein as a memorial to his grandfather, is open to Non-Muslim visitors. The nave with an area of 1,615 m2 has the capacity to house 3,000 worshipers. It is octogonal and distinguished for not having pillars inside. Its dome of 35 m in diameter has a height of 31 meters. A source of radiation was placed in the middle taking the form of a golden star culminating in the Ninety Nine Most Beautiful Names of Allah surrounding the dome's neck. The suspended chandelier of 168 lanterns consists of three circles with the Holy Quranic Verse with the word Allah recurring on every lantern.
Ahl Al Kahf
The legend of the ‘seven sleepers’ involves around seven Christian boys (the number maybe less or more) who were persecuted by the Roman Emperor Trajan, then escaped with their dog to a cave and slept there for 309 years. This is one of several locations that claim to be that cave. Inside the main cave – also known as Ahl Al Kahf (Cave of the People) – are eight smaller tombs that are sealed, though one has a hole in it, through which you can see a creepy collection of human bones.
Amman Citadel - Remarkable location at Amman history
Amman Citadel stands on one of the hills of the seven hills known as Jabel al Qala. Citadel, Amman is the site from where the sightseeing in Amman should be started. It is an important part of the Amman tour. Amman, the capital city of Jordan, has been the seat of various civilizations. And it is the home to the earliest development areas of the Middle Bronze Age, the Iron Age, the Hellenistic Age, the late Roman Age and the Arabian Islamic Age.
Tours From Amman to Other Places in Jordan :
Since Amman is the capital city of Jordan, most of the tourists stay in Amman city and spend more time there. All our tours start from Amman and end in Amman too, below are the tours you can do from Amman;
Amman to Dead Sea Full Day Tour
Amman City Population ( 2020 Study )
Amman city population is around 1,275,857 based on Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data.
Jordan Major cities : Amman (The capital ) , Al Zarqa , Irbid , Jerash , Maan , Aqaba, Al Salt, Al Tafilah, Karak , Shobak, Wadi Mousa , Mafraq
Jordan Main Attractions : Petra , Wadi Rum, Dead Sea , Jerash , Ajloun, Umm Qais , Madaba, Mount Nebo , Al Karak castle , Al Shobak castle , Desert castles , Aqaba , Baptism site, Umm Al Jimal , Amman Citadel, Roman Theater