Amman is Jordan's dynamic capital city, a fascinating blend of ancient history and modern urban life set across a dramatic hillside landscape. The city is home to Roman ruins, vibrant souks, world-class restaurants, and a thriving arts scene, making it one of the Middle East's most compelling destinations.
Amman is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, with evidence of settlement dating back to the Neolithic period around 8500 BC. Known through history as Rabbath Ammon (Ammonite capital), Philadelphia (during Greek and Roman rule), and Amman (from the 7th century AD onward), the city has been successively shaped by Ammonites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Macedonian Greeks, Nabataeans, Romans, Byzantines, Umayyad Muslims, and Ottoman Turks, before becoming the capital of Transjordan in 1921 and the modern Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 1946.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Amman.
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1
Neolithic Settlement
The extraordinary Ain Ghazal site (now within suburban Amman) was one of the world's largest Neolithic villages, home to the spectacular statues now in the Jordan Museum — among the oldest human statues ever discovered.
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2
Ammonite Kingdom — Rabbath Ammon
Ancient Amman was known as Rabbath Ammon, capital of the Ammonite kingdom — mentioned repeatedly in the Hebrew Bible. The Citadel hill was the Ammonite royal acropolis.
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3
Assyrian Conquest
The Assyrian Empire under Shalmaneser III recorded Ammon among the kingdoms paying tribute, beginning a series of conquests and foreign dominations.
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4
Alexander the Great and Hellenistic Era
Alexander the Great conquered the region, initiating the Greek Hellenistic period. The city was renamed Philadelphia after Ptolemy II Philadelphus, who rebuilt and expanded it. The remarkable Qasr Al-Abd palace dates to this era.
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5
Roman Period — Philadelphia
Pompey incorporated Philadelphia into the Roman Decapolis — a league of ten Greco-Roman cities. Under Roman rule the city flourished enormously, producing the monumental amphitheatre, the Nymphaeum, the Odeon, and the Hercules Temple.
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6
Roman Golden Age
During the reign of Marcus Aurelius, Amman saw its greatest period of Roman construction — the Temple of Hercules and the grand Roman Theatre were both built during this era.
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7
Byzantine Philadelphia
As the Roman Empire Christianized, Philadelphia became a Byzantine Christian city with churches established throughout, including the Byzantine church visible on the Citadel today.
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8
Arab Islamic Conquest
The Arab Muslim armies under the Rashidun Caliphate conquered Amman, beginning more than 1,300 years of Islamic governance. The city was renamed Amman (returning to a form of its ancient name).
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9
Umayyad Amman
The Umayyad Caliphate made Amman an important administrative center in the Balqa province. The magnificent Umayyad Palace complex atop the Citadel was built during this period.
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10
Ottoman Period
Amman came under Ottoman Turkish rule as part of the Syria province. The city declined in importance during much of the Ottoman period, becoming a small agricultural village.
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11
Circassian Settlement
The Ottoman government settled Circassian refugees (expelled from the Caucasus after Russian conquest) in Amman — they are credited with beginning the modern rebuilding of the city.
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12
Capital of Transjordan
The British Mandate established the Emirate of Transjordan with Abdullah I as Emir and Amman as capital — marking the beginning of the modern Jordanian state.
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13
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Jordan gained independence from Britain. Amman became capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan under King Abdullah I.
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14
Palestinian Refugee Influx
The 1948 Arab-Israeli War brought hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees to Jordan, dramatically transforming Amman's population and culture. Today, people of Palestinian origin constitute approximately half of Jordan's population.
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15
West Bank Refugees
A second major Palestinian refugee influx followed the 1967 Six-Day War, further shaping Amman's demographic and cultural character.
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16
Jordan-Israel Peace Treaty
Jordan became the second Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel, opening a new era of economic development and international tourism that transformed Amman.
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17
Modern Amman
Amman has grown dramatically into one of the Arab world's most livable cities — the Abdali development, a thriving arts scene, and major cultural investments have transformed Jordan's capital into a regional cultural hub.
Historical eras
The chapters of Amman's past.
Ancient and Biblical Period
From Neolithic Ain Ghazal through the Ammonite kingdom of Rabbath Ammon and the Hellenistic Philadelphia period — 8,500 years of pre-Roman civilization
Roman and Byzantine Period
The most visually rich historical period in Amman — Roman Philadelphia was a prosperous Decapolis city leaving behind the Theatre, Odeon, Nymphaeum, and Hercules Temple
Islamic Period
From the Arab conquest through Umayyad, Abbasid, Crusader-era, Ayyubid, Mamluk, and finally Ottoman rule — the Citadel's Umayyad Palace is the finest surviving monument
Modern Hashemite Period
The transformation from small Ottoman town to capital city of the modern Kingdom of Jordan — from Abdullah I's establishment of Transjordan to King Abdullah II's 21st-century development
Historical sites
Places where Amman's past comes alive.
Amman Citadel (Jabal al-Qal'a)
The hilltop citadel has been continuously occupied for over 4,000 years, with visible remains from the Ammonite, Roman, Byzantine, and Umayyad periods. The Temple of Hercules, Umayyad Palace, and Byzantine church represent three distinct civilizational peaks.
Where: Jabal al-Qala'a, Downtown Amman
Admission: JOD 3
Roman Theatre
A monumental 6,000-seat amphitheatre built into the hillside during the reign of Antoninus Pius (138–161 AD). Remarkably well-preserved and still used for concerts and events.
Where: Downtown Amman (Balad)
Admission: JOD 3
Qasr Al-Abd (Iraq Al-Amir)
One of the most remarkable Hellenistic structures in the Near East — a large palace partially reconstructed and surrounded by an extraordinary wadi valley. Built for a wealthy Jewish nobleman of the Tobiad family.
Where: Wadi Al-Seer, 25km west of Amman
Admission: JOD 2
Jordan Museum
Jordan's national museum houses the world's most significant archaeological collection including Dead Sea Scrolls, the Ain Ghazal Neolithic statues (7250 BC), and comprehensive exhibits from every era of Jordanian history.
Where: Ras Al-Ain, Amman
Admission: JOD 3
Ain Ghazal Archaeological Site
The original location of one of the world's earliest large human settlements — the remarkable Ain Ghazal statues found here are now displayed in the Jordan Museum and the British Museum.
Where: North Amman (site marked, statues in Jordan Museum)
Admission: Free (site visible from road)
Al-Husseini Mosque
Built in 1924 on the site of earlier Byzantine and Umayyad mosques, the Al-Husseini Mosque is the historic religious heart of Amman's downtown, its distinctive striped stonework visible throughout the old city.
Where: Downtown Amman
Admission: Free
Museums
Curated collections that tell Amman's story.
Archaeological Museum (Amman Citadel)
Small but excellent museum on the Citadel hill with objects from the Bronze Age through the Islamic period, including Ammonite artifacts and Roman sculpture
Hours: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM (summer); 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (winter)
Admission: Included in Citadel ticket (JOD 3)
Folklore Museum (Roman Theatre)
Traditional Jordanian village and Bedouin life recreated through authentic household items, tools, and costumes
Hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Admission: Included in Roman Theatre ticket (JOD 3)
Museum of Popular Traditions (Roman Theatre)
Impressive collection of Jordanian traditional costumes, Bedouin jewelry, mosaic replicas, and folk art
Hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Admission: Included in Roman Theatre ticket (JOD 3)
Royal Automobile Museum
70+ historical vehicles from King Hussein's personal collection, from a 1916 Cadillac to vintage motorcycles and presidential limousines
Hours: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM; closed Monday
Admission: JOD 3
Historical tours
Guided experiences that bring history to life.
Walking tours
Free walking tours of downtown Amman depart daily at 10:00 AM from the Roman Theatre entrance — offered by local guides and NGOs. Duration 2 hours.
Day tours
Full-day historical tours combining Amman, Jerash, and Ajloun cost JOD 40–60 per person organized through local operators
Private tours
Private licensed guides available through the Jordan Tourism Board — JOD 50–80 per half day; highly recommended for the Citadel and Jordan Museum