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Loud chatter in the alleys, traders haggle on the market square and singing sounds from the minarets – the sound carpet of the Jordanian capital envelops every visitor. Influenced by the ancient Greeks and Romans as well as the early Islamic culture, cosmopolitan Amman is full of surprises. Our local experts presented you the most beautiful highlights in the up-and-coming metropolis on the Jordan River!
Which country is Amman located?
A metropolis with an antique flair: The capital Amman is named after the ancient tribe of the Ammonites and today represents the political and cultural center of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. As an international financial metropolis, it is one of the most modern and safest cities in the Arab world.
As a rule, any trip to Jordan passes through Amman, since the capital is not only the cultural and economic center of the country, but also the airport ‘Queen Alia International’ is located at the gates of the city. Amman may not have such an old town from 1001 nights as Damascus or Jerusalem, but here, too, the magic of the Orient can be felt in the markets.
Today, the city of Amman includes 19 hills, in ancient times there were still 7 hills. The capital of Jordan can look back on an eventful, very ancient history. Today it is the financial, commercial and political centre of Jordan. The modern city of 2 million people has managed to preserve the traditional and everywhere you can find testimonies of past eras.
The city of Amman looks back on a long history of settlement. Even during the Neolithic period, a settlement was located on the site. It is known as Ain Ghazal and has been dated to about 7250 BC. About 3,000 people lived on the 15-hectare site. The remains of the settlement were discovered during road construction in the 70s and 80s.
In addition to the foundations of the houses, they also found 32 figures made of plaster, decorated with paint. In the 13th century BC, Amman was known by the name Rabba, the people of the Ammonites called it Rabbat-Ammon. The city was located on one of the most important trade routes leading to Egypt, Mesopotamia, Syria and Anatolia. The village benefited from the trade and agriculture in the surrounding area. Alexander the Great conquered Amman during his campaigns in the Middle East and Central Asia. Amman fell under the rule of the Ptolemies.
The Macedonian king Ptolemy II Philadelphus occupied the city and rebuilt it. He gave Amman the name Philadelphia, which in Greek means brotherly love. For about 900 years the name of Philadelphia remained, the city developed steadily, becoming a member of the Decapolis in the Hellenistic period. Amman was one of 10 cities that were structured and rebuilt according to the Greek model, buildings from the Hellenistic period still exist today. In 63 BC, Roman rule over Amman began with the conquest of almost the entire Levant. Emperor Trajan built a road in 106 AD that connected Aqaba and Damascus and led directly past Amman.
Thanks to the new well-developed connection and trade, the city’s economy flourished in the shortest possible time. Buildings from this period, such as the Odeon Theater, are still used for performances to this day. In the 630s, the city was captured by the Byzantines. The name of Philadelphia was changed to Amman and the city was incorporated into the caliphate, this was the beginning of Islamic supremacy. The transfer of the residence from Damascus to Baghdad in 750 also ushered in the end of the heyday of Amman. This changed only under Abdallah ibn Husain I, who chose Amman as the seat of government in 1921. In the meantime, Amman has grown into a metropolis. Amman is today the commercial and economic center of the Middle East.
Is Amman in Egypt?
Is Amman in Israel?
What state is Amman the capital of?
