Historical Sites of Jordan
Jordan is renowned for its rich history and is considered the cradle of numerous ancient civilizations and significant Eastern cultures. It is also home to many archaeological sites, with over 100,000 locations, many of which still retain their original condition, according to reports from the Jordanian Ministry of Tourism. Below are some of the most prominent archaeological sites found in Jordan:
Petra
Located in the Wadi Musa area of Ma’an governorate, Petra’s origins date back to the 3rd century BC, specifically during the Nabatean period. This archaeological city features elaborate structures, including palaces, temples, tombs, storage facilities, and stables carved from sandstone. Visitors can access these sites through a narrow canyon known as the Siq, which stretches 1.2 kilometers. Notable highlights of Petra include the Treasury, constructed with columns, niches, and bases in the ancient Greek style, as well as 40 tombs lining a street called the Street of Facades. Additionally, there is a theater capable of seating 7,000 people. Petra is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The archaeological site of Petra is located 240 kilometers south of Amman and 120 kilometers north of Aqaba. Often referred to as the “Rose City” due to the color of the stone from which many of its structures are carved, it stands as one of the most famous tourist destinations and a vital treasure of Jordan, recognized as a global wonder.
Citadel Hill
Amman and the Citadel Hill have witnessed several ancient civilizations, including Roman, Byzantine, Persian, and Greek cultures. The city has gone through various names over the centuries, originally known as Philadelphia, before the Muslims later renamed it Amman. Citadel Hill stands as the highest point in the capital, offering breathtaking views of the entire city. The site includes an impressive fortress with historical significance dating back to the Bronze Age and is recognized as one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the world, being constructed during the Bronze Age and reconstructed during the Iron, Roman, and Byzantine periods, extending over 1.5 kilometers. The Citadel Hill houses numerous other archaeological landmarks, including:
- The Temple of Hercules: This ancient temple is among the most significant Roman sites in the city, built during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD). Only two colossal columns and some dilapidated platforms remain today, visible from various points in the area, along with a massive stone hand that once decorated the temple.
- The Umayyad Palace: This notable site was constructed in the 8th century AD and features a spacious courtyard and a well-preserved domed hall, along with a large cistern that supplied water to the palace and surrounding areas, a Byzantine church, and a cross-shaped gate.
- The Jordan Archaeological Museum: This museum showcases a chronological collection of artifacts, including statues from the Neolithic period, around 6000 years old, alongside everyday items from ancient life such as pottery and flint. It also houses a bronze parchment from the Dead Sea, inscribed with Aramaic letters.
Umm Al-Jimal
Located in northern Jordan, Umm Al-Jimal is an ancient site built of black basalt bricks supported by rectangular basalt blocks from a Nabataean settlement. This location has seen various eras, including the Nabataean, Roman, Byzantine, Umayyad, Mamluk, Ottoman, and modern periods, making it historically significant. The city retains a cultural heritage that reflects its Bedouin past, noticeable in the local shops and residences.
Umm Al-Jimal boasts over 150 ancient buildings arranged along winding alleys surrounding several plazas, featuring public and private reservoirs and numerous churches adorned with ancient mosaics depicting the Jordan River alongside towns and villages mentioned in the holy scriptures. Nearby is the village of Umm al-Rasas, a Byzantine settlement featuring a 15-meter tower frequented by Christian monks seeking solitude.
Madaba
Located 30 kilometers from Amman along the King’s Highway, Madaba is often recognized as the “City of Mosaics” due to its rich collection of Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics. The Greek Orthodox church here houses an enormous mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, dating back to the 6th century AD, covering approximately 94 square meters. This elaborate work depicts hills, valleys, villages, towns, and even the Nile Delta, crafted from two million pieces of locally sourced colored stones. Despite its size, much of the map has deteriorated, with about a quarter preserved.
Throughout the churches and historic homes in Madaba, hundreds of mosaics from the 5th to the 7th century AD can be found. Key locations include the Church of the Virgin Mary, the Church of the Apostles, and the Madaba Archaeological Museum, which contains mosaics featuring various plants, animals, mythological scenes, hunting, farming, and more. Additionally, Madaba is home to a mosaic arts and restoration institute, the only one of its kind in the Middle East, aimed at training artisans in the craft of mosaic creation, preservation, and restoration, under the Ministry of Tourism.
Jerash
Approximately 50 kilometers north of Amman lies Jerash, an archaeological site representing the largest Roman site in Jordan, highly distinguished and attracting tourists from around the globe. Jerash contains the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Gerasa, surrounded by lush mountains and valleys. The city features specific landmarks, including the grand Hadrian’s Arch, the Temple of Artemis, and the vast Oval Forum lined with columns. Below is a brief overview of these and other sites in Jerash:
- Hadrian’s Arch: Also known as the Southern Gate, this monumental arch was constructed in 129 AD in honor of Emperor Hadrian during his visit. It was one of four gates distributed along the city wall, leading to the urban area with a nearby hippodrome that could accommodate over 15,000 spectators for races at that time.
- The Temple of Zeus: The remnants of this elegant temple were built in 162 AD.
- The South Theatre: This substantial theatre accommodates around 5,000 spectators, built in the 1st century AD with unique acoustic design.
- The Oval Forum: One of Jerash’s most distinctive sites due to its unusual shape and ample size, this forum is a limestone-paved area framed by 56 Corinthian columns, connecting the Columned Street to the Temple of Zeus.
- The Cardo Maximus: Located northeast of the forum, this main thoroughfare stretches approximately 800 meters, leading to the northern gate of the city, featuring well-preserved original stones marked by ancient cartwheel tracks.
Ajloun Castle
Ajloun Castle, also known as Qalat ar-Rabad, is perched atop Jebel Auja, overlooking the Jordan Valley and other valleys a few kilometers from the heart of Ajloun. Constructed between 1184 and 1188 by ‘Izz al-Din Usama Ibn Munqidh as a defensive fortress against the Crusaders, it sits approximately 1,100 meters above sea level, making it visible from vast distances. The castle has a deep trench of 15 meters and includes a small museum housing artifacts from the medieval period, such as utensils, mosaics, and hand grenades.
Ajloun Castle features seven towers built from limestone; the original design included only four towers. The fifth and sixth were added during an expansion, followed by the seventh, known as the Aybak Tower, built in the southeastern corner of the fort for added fortification. The castle’s structure consists of various levels, each serving a specific purpose: the lower level served as barracks for soldiers, the second level likely housed a mosque due to the presence of a prayer niche, while the third level contains the palace.
Karak Castle
The ingenuity of Karak Castle showcases the military and architectural prowess of the Crusaders; it resembles a dark maze filled with vaulted rooms and endless corridors, including underground chambers accessed through a massive door. On clear days, visitors can enjoy views of the Dead Sea and the paths leading to Mount Olivet in Jerusalem by carefully ascending to the upper section of the western wall.
Karak Castle has undergone various historic phases, from the Moabite period in the 1st millennium BC to Nabataean, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, and Crusader eras. During the 19th century, Ottoman building renovation took place, creating a tourist center, craft area, restaurants, and numerous amenities around the central square. The ancient castle also houses the Karak Archaeological Museum, opened in 1980, featuring collections from the Neolithic era to late Islamic periods obtained from Karak and Tafilah regions.
Umm Qais
Umm Qais, historically known as Gadara, was a classical city and part of the Decapolis League (the ten Greek cities). It boasts a picturesque location near Roman ruins and an abandoned Ottoman village while overlooking three countries: Jordan, Syria, and Palestine. The city commands views of the Golan Heights, Mount Hermon, and the Sea of Galilee. Numerous existing and buried ruins span several kilometers, with notable highlights including intricately designed rock-cut tombs, Greek inscriptions, and theaters, along with various black basalt and white limestone carvings.
Other Archaeological Sites in Jordan
The following are some other significant archaeological sites in Jordan, attracting numerous local and international visitors:
- Al-Mushatta Palace: Situated 30 kilometers south of Amman, this palace was initiated during the reign of Umayyad Caliph Al-Walid II as a venue for important gatherings, although it was left unfinished due to the caliph’s death and later ravaged by earthquakes. It is celebrated for its exquisite decoration and detailed carvings in limestone on its main facade, which depict animals and human figures.
- Al-Harraneh Palace: Constructed in 710 AD amidst the Jordanian desert, this well-preserved Umayyad building covers 35 square meters, featuring a southern façade gate, numerous supports, and narrow openings for light and ventilation, with a central open courtyard surrounded by vaulted rooms. The upper floor is decorated with plaster moldings and carved gypsum columns.
- The Azraq Castle: Located in the Azraq Oasis, this fortress was built during the Roman era in the 3rd century AD from black basalt. It features a main entrance formed from two massive basalt slabs and includes a spacious central courtyard and a square structure with walls extending 80 meters.
- Hamam as-Sarah: Designed as a political representation strategy, this bathing complex combined its hygienic purpose with the Umayyad’s political interests by serving as a meeting venue. It includes a bath, an adjacent meeting hall, an enclosed garden, and a hydraulic system. A mosque was later added alongside various remnants of wells, waterwheels, and elevated water reservoirs, with visible foundations of the enclosed garden and fountain basin.
- The Hallabat Palace: Beginning in the 2nd century AD on a former Nabataean site, this palace was destroyed by an earthquake in 551 AD and later repurposed as a monastery and palace by the Ghassanids. During the Umayyad period, the existing structure was demolished, and the main palace was rebuilt using black basalt and limestone to create a desert Umayyad complex, enhanced with decorative mosaics, mural paintings, and plaster sculptures. This project included a mosque, a significant water reservoir, a bath, and a water system within its modifications.
- Iraq Al-Amir: Dating back to the Copper Age, this hill region encompasses numerous caves where valuable artifacts, glass, and weapons from the Bronze Age and Nabataean and Roman periods have been discovered. Gold Islamic coins, inscriptions, and remnants of a Ptolemaic church have also been found, with the discoveries exhibited in the Arab Heritage and Recent Excavations Museum opened in 1992.