Amman

Amman

عمان
Amman عمان
	Buildings in downtown Amman
	Flag
	Location of Amman within Jordan.
Country	Jordan
Governorate	Capital Governorate
Government
• Mayor	Omar AlMaani
Elevation	718 m (2,356 ft)
Population (2005)
• Total	2,125,400
Website	http://www.ammancity.gov.jo
	1. Population refers to Greater Amman

Amman, sometimes spelled Ammann (Arabic عمان ʿAmmān), is the capital city of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, a city of 2,125,400 inhabitants (2005 estimate), and the administrative capital and commercial centre of Jordan. It is the capital city of Amman Governorate.

History

Throughout history, Amman has been inhabited by several civilizations. The first civilization on record is during the Neolithic period, around 6500 BC, when archaeological discoveries in 'Ain Ghazal, located in eastern Amman, showed evidence of not only a settled life but also the growth of artistic work, which suggests that a well-developed civilization inhabited the city at that time. In the 13th century BC Amman was called Rabbath Ammon or Rabat Amon by the Ammonites (רַבַּת עַמּוֹן, Standard Hebrew Rabbat ʿAmmon, Tiberian Hebrew Rabbaṯ ʿAmmôn). It was later conquered by the Assyrians, followed by the Persians, and then the Greeks. Ptolemy II Philadelphus, the Hellenic ruler of Egypt, renamed it Philadelphia. The city became part of the Nabataean kingdom until AD 106 when Philadelphia came under Roman control and joined the Decapolis —

In 324 AD, Christianity became the religion of the empire and Philadelphia became the seat of a bishopric during the beginning of the Byzantine era. One of the churches of this period can be seen on the city's Citadel.

Philadelphia was renamed to Amman during the Ghassanian era, and flourished under the Caliphates (with nearby capital) of the Ummayads (in Damascus) and the Abbasids (in Bagdad). It was then destroyed by several earthquakes and natural disasters and remained a small village and a pile of ruins until the Circassians settlement in 1887. The tide changed when the Ottoman Sultan decided to build the Hejaz railway, linking Damascus and Medina, facilitating both the annual haj pilgrimage and permanent trade, putting Amman, a major station, back on the commercial map.

In 1921, Abdullah I chose Amman as seat of government for his newly created state, the Emirate of Transjordan, and later as the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. As there was no palatial building, he started his reign from the station, with his office in a train car. Amman remained a small city until 1948, when the population expanded considerably due to an influx of Palestinian refugees as a result of them leaving the newly-created state of Israel. Amman has experienced exceptionally rapid development since 1952 under the leadership of two Hashemite Kings, Hussein of Jordan and Abdullah II of Jordan.

The city's population continues to expand at a dizzying pace (fueled by refugees escaping the wartime events in [Greater Israel] and Iraq). The city received refugees from these countries on a number of occasions. The first wave of Palestinian refugees arrived from West Bank and Gaza as well as Israel proper in 1948. A second wave after the Six Day War in 1967. A third wave of Palestinian Arab refugees arrived in Amman from Kuwait after the Gulf War of 1991. Many of the Palestinian Arabs that had been residing and working in Kuwait decided to support Saddam Hussein's invasion of the country, and so when the Kuwaiti royal family retook control of the country, they were expelled. The first wave of Iraqi refugees settled in the city after the first Gulf War, which reduced Iraq's socio-economic level dramatically. A second wave also began arriving after the invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003, which greatly increased insecurity in the country as a whole. During the last 10 years the amount of new building within the city has increased dramatically with new districts of the city being founded at a very rapid pace (particularly so in West Amman), straining the very scarce water supplies of Jordan as a whole, and exposing Amman to the hazards of rapid expansion in the absence of careful municipal planning.

On November 9, 2005, coordinated explosions rocked three hotels in Amman, shocking and angering the population of the peaceful city. The Islamist organization, Al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility. Despite the fact that the birthplace of since-killed terrorist leader Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi is the town of Zarqa, less than 30km from Amman, and that it remains a bastion of support for his ideology, the sheer brutality of the attacks — they targeted, among other things, a Muslim wedding procession — caused widespread revulsion across the widest range of Jordanians.

Geography

Amman is located in a hilly area of north-western Jordan. The city was originally built on seven hills, but it now spans over an area of nineteen hills (each known as a jabal or "mountain"). The main areas of Amman gain their names from the hills and mountains on whose slopes they lie.

Because of the cooling effects of its location on a plateau (a flat area of land), Amman enjoys four seasons of excellent weather as compared to other places in the region. Summer temperatures range from 28 - 35 degrees, but with very low humidity and frequent breezes. Spring and fall temperatures are extremely pleasant and mild. The winter sees nighttime temperatures frequently near zero, and snow is not unknown in Amman, as a matter of fact it usually snows a couple of times per year. It typically will not rain from April to September, with blue skies prevailing. But lately it started to rain in April and the beginning of May. In fact about half the quantity of rain Amman and Jordan received in 2006 fell in April.

Transportation

The city's main airport, Queen Alia International Airport, is situated about 30 minutes south of Amman and hosts the majority of the air travel to and from the country.

By land, the city has frequent bus connections to other cities in Jordan as well as to major cities in neighboring countries; the latter are also served by service taxis. Internal transport is served by a number of bus routes and taxis. Service taxis, which most often operate on fixed routes, are readily available and inexpensive. The main two bus and taxi stations are Abdali (near the King Abdullah Mosque, the Parliament and Palace of Justice) and Raghadan (near the Roman Amphetheatre in Downtown). The city can suffer from considerable traffic congestion at peak hours, especially during summer months when affluent vacationers from the Gulf region summer in Amman to take advantage of its relatively mild weather.

Tourism

Much of Amman's tourism is focused in the older downtown area, which is centered around the old Souk (a colorful traditional market) and the King Hussein Mosque. The downtown area (known locally as the Balad) has been completely dwarfed by the sprawling urban areas that surround it. Despite the changes, much remains of its old character. For those seeking the atmosphere of the Old City, it is best to venture to the district east of Jabal Amman. There, in the bustle of daily life, you can explore the capital's greatest souqs, fine museums, ancient constructions, monuments, and cultural sites.

The Citadel hill of Amman, known as Jabal el Qala, has been inhabited for centuries, important as a military and religious site. It dates back to Roman and Byzantine times, and later work was carried out in the early Islamic era. Remains unearthed at the northern and eastern ends of the Citadel, possibly date back to the Bronze Age. The Citadel also is home to the Temple of Hercules which is said to have been constructed under the Roman imperial ruler Marcus Aurelius who reigned from AD 161-180, is similar to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus.

Since Amman resembles Rome, as it is situated on seven hills, the city was a favorite place for Roman soldiers and officials. Behind the Roman forum stands a Roman theatre—the largest theatre in Jordan—with room for 6,000 spectators. Thought to have been built between AD 138 and AD 161 by the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius, it is constructed into the side of the mountain and is still used for sport displays and cultural events.

Amman is also home to some of the grandest mosques in the Middle East, although they compare less favorably to the ones to be found in Istanbul, Turkey. The newest of these is the enormous King Abdullah I Mosque, built between 1982 and 1989. It is capped by a magnificent blue mosaic dome beneath which 3,000 Muslims may offer prayer. The most unusual mosque in Amman is the Abu Darweesh Mosque atop Jabal Ashrafieh (the highest point in the city). It is covered with an extraordinary black and white chequered pattern and is unique to Jordan. It is striking and visible from quite some distance. In contrast, the interior is totally free of the black and white scheme. Instead, there are light colored walls and Persian carpets. This religious building was erected by one of Amman's Circassian immigrants.

Unfortunately, a lone, deranged gunman attacked Western tourists during a guided trip to the downtown Roman amphitheatre in September, 2006, shooting five of them, one fatally. The man was immediately apprehended, and claimed to have acted in response to the fighting between Israel and Lebanon during the prior months. Despite this attack, tourism in Amman continues on a daily basis, and the city's tourist locations are generally well-policed. Given Jordan's location in a region that sees frequent conflict and violence, by statistics and by general mood, Amman remains a safe and interesting place to visit. For example, despite this killing, there is little or no violent or petty crime in Amman, especially against visitors, who uniformly report feeling safe at all hours in practically all locations in the city.

Nearby places of interest

Amman is conveniently located for many Jordanian attractions favoured by tourists. It is a mere 45 minute trip by car to several interesting locations:

The Baptism Site (Al-Maghtas in Arabic) on the River Jordan where Jesus is believed to have been baptized by John the Baptist
Mount Nebo where, according to the Bible, Moses is supposed to have died
The unique ultra saline waters of the Dead Sea, home to many first-rate resorts
Jerash, a city of the Decapolis and considered one of the most important and best preserved Roman cities in the Near East
The Hellenistic ruin of Qasr al Abd, in the near-by valley of Wadi Seer
Petra, halfway between Amman and Aqaba, is one of the most breathtaking places in the world — see also about Petra
The beaches at Aqaba, a shipping port and Jordan's only access to the Red Sea. Just over three hours from Amman by car, the primarily industrial character of the town is mitigated by the fact that it is set between sprawling mountain ranges and boasts some of the finest coral reefs in the region.

Gallery

2002 picture of Central Amman (downtown)

2002 picture of Central Amman (downtown)
Abu Darweesh Mosque
Amman cityscape at night
A Coptic Church is an example of Amman's religious diversity
A night view of Khelda, West End of Amman
An overview of East Amman.
Snow in Amman.

Snow in Amman.