Amman

Amman is a big city in Jordan.

It is a very old place. People lived there a long time ago. They even made small statues of people.

The city sits on many hills. Some parts of the city are old. Other parts are new.

There is a big theater for shows. It was built a long time ago. It can hold many people.

Many people visit the city to see it. It is a busy place to be.

Amman is the capital city of Jordan.

It is a very old place. People have lived there for a long time. Some people lived there in the 8th millennium BC. At a place called 'Ain Ghazal, they made small statues. These are some of the oldest human statues ever found.

The city has many different names. In the past, it was called Philadelphia. Later, it was renamed Amman.

Amman sits on many hills. It started with seven hills. Now, it covers more than 19 hills.

You can see old parts and new parts. East Amman has many historic sites. West Amman is more modern. There is a large Roman Theatre. It was built a long time ago. It can hold 6,000 people.

Many people live in Amman. About five million people live there. It is a busy center for business and culture. Many visitors come to see the city every year.

Amman is the capital city of Jordan.

It is also the largest city in the country. This city serves as a center for politics, culture, and business. As of 2024, about five million people live there. Amman is a very important place in the Levant region. It is the seventh-largest city in the Arab world. It is also the eighth-largest metropolitan area in the Middle East.

The city sits on many hills. It was first built on seven hills. Now, it spans over 19 hills and covers 22 different areas.

People name different parts of the city after these hills or the valleys between them. A hill is called a jabal. A valley is called a wadi. For example, you might hear the names Jabal al-Luweibdeh or Wadi Abdoun. The city is split into two main sides. East Amman has many historic sites and cultural activities. West Amman is more modern and serves as the economic center.

Amman is one of the oldest cities where people have lived continuously. The earliest signs of people living there date back to the 8th millennium BC. This was at a place called 'Ain Ghazal.

Archaeologists found small human statues there made of white plaster. These are some of the oldest statues of the human form ever found. In the Iron Age, the city was known as Rabat Aman. This was the capital of the Ammonite Kingdom.

During this time, it was a vital spot on the King's Highway trade route.

The city has had many different names over the years. In the 3rd century BC, it was renamed Philadelphia. This name means "brotherly love" in Greek.

Later, in the 7th century AD, the Rashidun Caliphate renamed it Amman. The city has seen many changes and different rulers. It was part of the Decapolis, a group of ten Greco-Roman cities. During the Roman period, Emperor Trajan built a road through the city. This helped the economy grow. You can still see the large Roman Theatre today.

It was built to hold 6,000 people.

Today, Amman is a busy and growing place. It is a popular spot for large international companies to open offices. In 2018, about one million visitors came to see the city.

The city has a bus network to help people move around. This includes a Bus Rapid Transit system. This system connects Amman to the neighboring city of Zarqa. The city continues to grow as people move there from many different places. It remains a vital part of the Middle East.

Amman is the capital and largest city of Jordan.

It serves as the nation's primary economic, political, and cultural hub. As of 2024, the city has a population of approximately five million people. This makes Amman a primate city within Jordan. It is also the largest city in the Levant region. In the broader Arab world, it ranks as the seventh-largest city. It is the eighth-largest metropolitan area in the Middle East.

The city's geography is defined by its hilly landscape. While it was originally built on seven hills, it now spans over 19 hills. These hills cover 22 different administrative areas.

Local names often reflect this terrain. A hill is called a jabal, while a valley is called a wadi. Examples include Jabal al-Luweibdeh and Wadi Abdoun. The city is divided into two distinct sections. East Amman contains many historic sites and cultural venues. West Amman is more modern and acts as the economic center.

Amman is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. The earliest evidence of settlement is at 'Ain Ghazal. This site dates back to the 8th millennium BC.

During the Neolithic period, 'Ain Ghazal was a village of rectangular mud-brick houses. Archaeologists discovered famous human statues there in 1983. These figures are made of white plaster with painted eyes. They are considered some of the oldest large-scale human statues ever found.

During the Iron Age, the city was known as Rabat Aman. This was the capital of the Ammonite Kingdom.

The city was a vital location on the King's Highway. This ancient trade route connected Egypt with Mesopotamia, Syria, and Anatolia. The Ammonites gained revenue through trade and local resources like limestone. In the 3rd century BC, the city underwent a major change. The Macedonian ruler Ptolemy II Philadelphus renamed it Philadelphia. This name translates to "brotherly love" in Greek.

The Roman period brought significant architectural developments. Philadelphia became part of the Decapolis, a league of ten Greco-Roman cities. In AD 106, Emperor Trajan built a road through the city. This provided a major economic boost. Many impressive structures remain from this era. These include the Great Temple at the Amman Citadel.

The Roman Theatre is another famous landmark. It was built around AD 161 and held 6,000 people.

Nearby, a smaller venue called an Odeon held 500 people. The Odeon is still used for music concerts today.

Islam arrived in the region during the 7th century AD. The Rashidun Caliphate conquered the area from the Byzantines. They renamed the city Amman, restoring its ancient Semitic name.

The city experienced many shifts in fortune. It saw periods of great prosperity and periods of devastation. During the Ottoman period, Amman was largely abandoned. It was only resettled by Circassians in 1878. Growth accelerated after the city connected to the Hejaz Railway in 1904. Amman became the capital of Transjordan in 1921. This led to waves of migration and refugees from various regions.

Today, Amman is a significant global and regional player. It is ranked as a Beta− global city. The city is a popular location for multinational corporations. It ranks alongside Doha and behind Dubai for regional offices. In 2018, approximately one million visitors arrived in the city. This made it the 12th most-visited Arab city.

To manage its large population, the city uses a Bus Rapid Transit system. This network connects Amman to the neighboring city of Zarqa.