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Amman

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Amman is the capital and largest city of Jordan.

Amman panorama 2024
Amman panorama 2024

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.

Jamal Abdul Nasser Circle Amman Jordan
Jamal Abdul Nasser Circle Amman Jordan

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.

Districts of Amman Numbered
Districts of Amman Numbered

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.

View of the New Abdali from the northeast, Amman, 2024
View of the New Abdali from the northeast, Amman, 2024

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.

20100923 amman37
20100923 amman37

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.

Jordan Museum
Jordan Museum

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

Rujm Al-Malfouf
Rujm Al-Malfouf

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.

Church of St. Stephen, mosaic depicting the city of Philadelphia (Amman), Um er-Rasas, Jordan (cropped) (cropped)
Church of St. Stephen, mosaic depicting the city of Philadelphia (Amman), Um er-Rasas, Jordan (cropped) (cropped)

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.

Temple of Hercules - Amman citadel
Temple of Hercules - Amman citadel

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

Amman Amphitheater 03
Amman Amphitheater 03

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.

Jordan0813
Jordan0813

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.

רבת עמון - מראה-JNF001650
רבת עמון - מראה-JNF001650

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.

Souk Jara 4 Jul 2008 (7)
Souk Jara 4 Jul 2008 (7)

To manage its large population, the city uses a Bus Rapid Transit system.

This network connects Amman to the neighboring city of Zarqa.

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🖼️ Images & Media (21)
File:20100923 amman37.JPG
20100923 amman37.JPG
File:Rujm Al-Malfouf.jpg
Rujm Al-Malfouf.jpg
File:Temple of Hercules - Amman citadel.jpg
Temple of Hercules - Amman citadel.jpg
File:Amman Amphitheater 03.JPG
Amman Amphitheater 03.JPG
File:Jordan0813.jpg
Jordan0813.jpg
File:Church_of_St._Stephen,_mosaic_depicting_the_city_of_Philadelphia_(Amman),_Um_er-Rasas,_Jordan_(cropped)_(cropped).jpg
Church_of_St._Stephen,_mosaic_depicting_th...
File:Z Ottoman Ten arches Amman 2.jpg
Z Ottoman Ten arches Amman 2.jpg
File:רבת עמון - מראה-JNF001650.jpeg
רבת עמון - מראה-JNF001650.jpeg
File:Sprt City Amman.JPG
Sprt City Amman.JPG
File:Jamal Abdul Nasser Circle Amman Jordan.jpg
Jamal Abdul Nasser Circle Amman Jordan.jpg
File:Districts of Amman Numbered.png
Districts of Amman Numbered.png
File:Amman panorama 2024.png
Amman panorama 2024.png

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