JORDAN IN DEPTH

PLACES OF INTEREST

Located in the centre of the Middle East, Jordan bridges east and west, the desert and the sea. For the past ten thousand years people have travelled the historic trade routes which cross Jordan. Culture and history abound in this country.

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, once a very ancient country, is nowadays a modern kingdom. In Jordan you can immerse yourself in the colourful traditions of Arab culture and at the same time enjoy the convenient life of the modern metropolis. Jordan offers diversity and traditional hospitality, and you can travel safely throughout the land.

The highlight of every trip to Jordan will no doubt be the ancient Nabatean city of Petra. This long-lost city, carved into the rose-red sandstone rocks, is one of the most spectacular sights of the Middle East. It is remarkably well preserved and has been a constant source of inspiration to travellers, writers and painters.

Throughout history Jordan has always played a vital role in the Middle East. Many of its cities and villages are named in the Bible. It is home to the cities of the Decapolis, the social and economic bond between ten important cities in Roman times. It was the battle field during the crusades, and it contains some of Islam's most holy places.

Nowadays one can still visit many sights to see the evidence of cultures gone.


Ajloun

The castle of Ajloun was built in 1184 by Izzeddin Usama Munqith, the nephew of Saladin.

It's main purpose was to protect the region against the crusaders. Towering above the green forested hills the castle can be seen from miles away. From the top of the castle, fourteen hundred meters above sea level, you can admire the panoramic view over the Jordan Valley. Ajloun castle is one of the best preserved examples of medieval Arab-Islamic military architecture.

The castle's main features are a drawbridge into the main entrance, a fortified entrance gate and several towers.

Inside, the castle is a labyrinth of vaulted passages, winding staircases, long ramps, enormous rooms that served as dining halls, dormitories and stables. The castle hosts a total of 11 water cisterns and the private quarters of the Lord of the Castle.


Amman

Jordan's capital Amman originally was built on seven hills, but now it spreads over at least nineteen hills. It is a city of contrasts, a mixture of ancient and modern, where many civilizations left their mark.

The oldest records refer to Amman as Rabbath-Ammon, the capital of the Ammonite kingdom. Later on it was called Philadelphia and around 30 BC it became part of the Roman Empire. At that time it was a member of the Decapolis, the famous league of ten cities that were bound by powerful commercial, political and cultural interests.

Nowadays you can still see many remains from ancient times. The Amman Citadel features a lovely view over the hills and valleys of the capital. You may visit the remains of the temple of Hercules, the Ummayyad palace, a Byzantine church and the archaeological museum. Down the hill you may visit the Roman theatre which seats 6,000 and the nearby Grand Husseini Mosque.

Modern Amman also has a lot of entertainment to offer. Varying from modern shopping centres in Sweifiyeh and Abdoun to traditional souqs downtown. Enjoy the taste of Arabic coffee and sweets. Taste the Arabic food in one of the nice restaurants, accompanied by traditional life music. And explore Amman's nightlife and go dancing in one of the many nightclubs.


Aqaba

Jordan's only port Aqaba lies on the northern tip of the Red Sea. The waters of the Red Sea are crystal clear and have an abundant marine life. The Red Sea is home to more than 140 species of coral and countless species of brightly coloured fish.

And if you are lucky you may also experience close encounters with friendly sea animals like turtles and dolphins.

The weather near the Gulf of Aqaba is splendid all year around. Even in the midst of winter the temperature hovers steadily around 20?C.

The water temperature averages from 22.5?C in winter to 26?C in summer. The prevailing northern winds from Wadi Araba keep the surface shimmering clean and the flows within the gulf ensure transparent waters. These circumstances make Aqaba one of the most rewarding spots for scuba diving and snorkelling in the world. Aqaba is also known for its beautiful sandy beaches, which on the southeast side of the town stretch out for kilometres on end.

For people interested in history Aqaba also has some sights to see. Recent excavations indicate that the city was founded after the eighth century BC.

It was a halting place for caravans and served industrial purposes for melting copper from the nearby mines.

During the ages Aqaba saw many rulers come and go. In the early days of Islam the walled city of Ayla was built and the floor plan can still be seen.

The crusader fortress was rebuilt in the sixteenth century and played a vital role during the Arab revolt in the beginning of the twentieth century.


Bethany beyond the Jordan

'Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing', is mentioned in John 1:28 and 10:40.

It is the place where John the Baptist baptized Jesus as well.

Bethany and other nearby places formed part of the early Christian pilgrimage route between Jerusalem, the Jordan River and Mount Nebo. It is the location, directly opposite Jericho, where Joshua completed Moses' mission by miraculously crossing the Jordan River with his people (Joshua 3:14-17).

The area has also been identified as the spot where centuries later the prophets Elijah and Elisha divided the Jordan's waters 'to the right and left' and crossed to the east bank of the river. And where the prophet Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven on a chariot of fire and horses of fire (2 Kings 2:5-14).

Throughout history Bethany was known by several different names: Tell el-Kharrar, Tell Mar Elias, Bethabara, Ainon, Saphsaphas. Today the area is called Al-Maghtas in Arabic, the place of baptism. In recent years extensive archaeological excavations are taking place.

One can visit the remains of a Byzantine monastery and churches, baptism and water storage pools, water systems and chapels. Also identified here is the cave where, according to numerous Byzantine pilgrims' texts, John the Baptist lived. The pilgrims noted that fresh water flowed out of the cave, which John drank and used for baptism.

In the early Byzantine period (early fourth to early seventh centuries AD) the cave was turned into a church. Nowadays the remains of this church and the water channel emerging from the cave can be visited.


Jerash

North of Amman lies the city of Jerash, sometimes referred to as the Pompei of the East. Jerash was part of the Graeco-Roman Decapolis, the league of ten cities bound by strong political, social and commercial interests. It's one of the best preserved Roman towns outside Italy. Because Jerash has been covered by sand for centuries its colonnaded streets, baths, theatres, plazas and arches remain in exceptional condition.

A walk through Jerash is a journey in time. Can you imagine yourself being a Roman commander entering the town while riding your chariot over the paved stone? Or perhaps an actor staging a play in the amphitheatre? Or a priest leading a procession up the stairs of the Artemis' temple?

You will enter Jerash through the monumental South Gate. You will walk in the Oval Plaza surrounded by colonnades, visit the Roman theatre and Byzantine churches with mosaic-covered floors. Enjoy a stroll along Jerash' main road the Cardo and pass by the Nymphaeum. You may experience the marvellous acoustics of the theatre, the stage of the Jerash music festival which takes place every year in July. And see for yourself how the Romans built the earthquake-proof columns of the colonnaded streets.


Jordan Valley

The Jordan Valley is the lowest landscape on earth. The valley forms part of the Great Rift valley which stretches from Turkey into East Africa. Because of the many side valleys most of the time there is a sufficient supply of water. Since antiquity the water, the fertile soil and the warm climate have attracted people to the valley for living, hunting, tilling the land and building.

In the north of the Jordan Valley, in Wadi Himmeh, stone tools have been found of alsmost one million years old. Extensive archaeological sites in Pella and Tell Nimrin among others show that from the Early Bronze Age until the present time the valley has been inhabited almost without interruption. The Jordan Valley is connected to many historical and biblical sites.


Karak

The crusades mainly took place on what is nowadays Jordanian territory. When the Arabs attacked the holy places of the Byzantines, they called the crusaders to their aid.

The crusader fortress of Karak is built very strategically on top of a mountain along the King's Highway. It was the battle field where Saladin and Richard Lionheart conquered each other. If only to admire the view the fortress is worth a visit.

For the greater part the castle was built underground. You may dwell through dark underground corridors and take a look at the soldiers' rooms and knights' halls.


King's Highway

When travelling southwards along the winding King's Highway you will pass through very attractive scenery.

The King's Highway is mentioned in the Bible (Numbers 20:17). It was the road followed by Moses when he led his people through the land of Edom, in the south of Jordan to Canaan. And the name may even be derived from a passage mentioned in the book of Genesis (14:5-8). This passage tells the story of four kings from the north who attacked the five kings of the Cities of the Plain, among which Sodom and Gomorrah. They took hostage Lot, who ultimately was rescued by Abraham.

On both sides of the King's Highway there are archaeological remains to be found from the Stone Age, the kingdoms of Ammon, Moab and Edom, the crusader era, early Christian Byzantine churches, king Herod's fortress, Nabatean temples, old Islamic towns as well as the capital of the Nabatean empire Petra.


Sanctuary of Lot

In the vicinity of Wadi Numeira, close to the small town of Zoar (modern Safi) you may find the cave where Lot and his two daughters fled to after God destructed Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:30).

From the cave which contains a natural fountain, you have a beautiful view over de Dead Sea. Stone fragments which were found in the cave date back to around 3,000 BC, presumably the era when the destruction of Sodom took place. An inscription also mentions the name of Lot.


You may visit the remains of a Byzantine monastery and church which were used by the faithful from the fifth until the eighth century AD. The Madaba mosaic map refers to it as The Monastery of Saint Lot.

Machaerus

Machaerus, nowadays Mukawir, was once the fortress of Herod the Great, built majestically on top of a cliff which is surrounded by deep ravines on three sides and overlooks the Dead Sea.

Because John the Baptist reproved king Herod for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things he had done, he imprisoned him in the fortress of Machaerus (Luke 3:20). It was here that Herod Antipas commanded the beheading of John the Baptist to please Salome, Herodias' daughter (Matthew 14:3-11).

John the Baptist started and ended his mission in Jordan, which is why he is the patron saint of Jordan for Christians.

Like Masada on the opposite side of the Dead Sea, Machaerus was the scene of a Roman siege of Herodian troops during the First Jewish Revolt against Rome.


Madaba

Madaba, biblical Medeba, is renowned for its spectacular Byzantine and Ummayyad mosaics. Literally hundreds of mosaics from the fifth through the seventh centuries are scattered throughout Madaba's churches and houses.

In the church of Saint George you may see the sixth century map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, which was found in 1884 when the church was rebuilt. The mosaic is composed of two million pieces of coloured stone. The map depicts hills and valleys, villages and towns as far as the Nile Delta.

The church of the Apostles also hosts some very beautiful mosaics.


Mount Nebo

Mount Nebo is one of the most revered holy sites of Jordan, for this is from where Moses, 'the servant of the Lord' and 'the friend of God' (Deuteronomy 32:49 and 34:5) viewed the Promised Land and the Dead Sea, after leading his people through the desert for forty years. If the sky is clear Jerusalem, Jericho and Bethlehem will meet your eye.

Centuries ago, the pilgrims flocked to Mount Nebo on their final destination to visit the sanctuary dedicated to Moses and the Prophet's dead and burial place. In the Moses Memorial Church the walls and floors are decorated with beautiful mosaics. The church dates back to the sixth century.


Pella

Pella, Tabaqat Fahl in Arabic, is located in the northern part of the Jordan Valley, above the modern village of Mashare'. From the guesthouse terrace you have a splendid view over de green Jordan Valley.

Just like Jerash, Amman and Umm Qais, Pella once was a member of the famous Decapolis. The early Christians fled from Jerusalem to Pella to escape the Jewish Revolt in AD 66-70 and the Roman persecution in the earliest Christian centuries

Pella is very rich in antiquities. Next to excavations from the Graeco-Roman period you can also see the remains of a Chalcolithic settlement from the fourth millennium BC, as well as evidence from the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. Finally you may visit some Byzantine churches, houses from the Ummayyad period and a small medieval mosque. Pella also hosts a museum for paleontology and geology.


Petra

No visit of Jordan will be complete without having seen the capital of the ancient Nabatean kingdom. The long-lost city of Petra, carved entirely by man into the rose-red sandstone rocks, puts your imagination to the test. It's a mystic and glorious place, an eternal tribute to a lost civilization.

Petra was the central meeting point of the Nabatean spice routes which originated from the Persian Gulf, Western Arabia and the Red Sea. About two thousand years ago Petra became the capital of the Nabatean empire. The city was so renowned that one of its kings, Aretas IV, is even mentioned in the Bible (2 Corinthians 11:32).

The natural richness of the mountainous area combines in a superb way with the refined culture and massive architecture of the Nabateans, who carved their theatre, temples, façades, tombs, monasteries, houses and roads entirely into the rose-red sandstone rocks. No wonder Unesco placed Petra on its World Heritage List. Because of its beauty and the mysticism surrounding it, through the ages Petra has attracted many writers and painters. The great Scottish artist David Roberts dedicated a series of lithographs to Petra.

One enters Petra by passing the Siq, a small and deep narrow gorge, at the end of which all of a sudden dramatically appears the most famous monument of Petra: al-Khazneh or the Treasury. Maybe you will recognize it as the stage of the final sequence in the movie 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'.

But the Treasury is just the start. Walking and climbing in Petra hundreds of buildings carved in stone and eroded through the centuries into fabulous multi-coloured walls will be revealed to you.

Local tradition says the spring of Wadi Mousa, the 'valley of Moses', at Petra is where Moses struck the rock with his rod twice and brought forth water (Numbers 20:10-12). Petra also hosts the shrine commemorating the death of Aaron (Haroun in Arabic), the brother of Moses.

From the Monastery, Ad-Deir, you will have a splendid view over Wadi Araba. And after a long and steep climb you may visit the High Place of Sacrifice and see the obelisks which are believed to represent the most important Nabatean gods, Dushara and Al 'Uzza.


Shobak

During the crusades period Shobak was known as Mons Realis, the kingly mountain, since it was the first castle established in 1115 by the kingdom of Jerusalem at the other side of the river Jordan.

Just as the castle of Karak the crusador fortress of Shobak is built on a hill top. The castle is built adjacent to the mountain and offers a nice view of the old village of Shobak and the fruit trees below. Next to the crusader chapel, a palace or reception hall and a number of rooms with arches can be visited.

The water supplies of the castle depended on the fountains at the foot of the hill. In times of siege a deep and steep staircase of 356 steps was used, which run inside the fortress hill top and led to the fountain. The staircase can be visited but the steps are worn out and the corridor is not lighted.


Umm ar-Rasas

Umm ar-Rasas, biblical Mephaath, presumably dates from Roman times. It once was a square, walled town. Nowadays it is one of the residences of the Bani Sakhr tribe. Inside the walled city four churches have been identified up to now. Outside the walls twelve churches have been located.

In the churches of Bishop Sergius and Saint Stephen a number of fabulous mosaics may be admired. The mosaics in the church of Bishop Sergius depict scenes from the daily life of the benefactors who financed the construction of the church. The church of Saint Stephen contains Jordan's largest mosaic carpet featuring images of the fifteen major cities of the Holy Land.

Umm ar-Rasas also features the highest standing ancient tower of Jordan, which still puzzles specialists because it doesn't contain a door or inner staircase. It is believed to have been home to a pillar saint.


Umm Qais

Umm Qais was one of the cities of the Decapolis, just as Amman and Jerash. In earlier times it was known as Gadara, where Jesus miracle sent the demented spirits out of two men into a herd of swine who ran down the hill and drowned in the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-30).

Umm Qais is built out of black basalt on a hill top overlooking the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights. Worth visiting are the theatre, the church with its gallery, the black sarcophagi and an underground mausoleum. From the terrace of the guesthouse you may admire the splendid panoramic view.