Citadel Hill of Amman

The Citadel Hill is located on ‘Jabal al-Qalah’ and it is located near Amman. It is the site of ancient Rabath-Ammon and the excavations have shown the presence of Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic remains. You get a wonderful view of the old City and the Roman amphitheater located in the valley below. The Citadel Hill is situated at a height of 830 meters and the fort is so located that it overlooks the city of Amman. History tells us that the citadel which has been inhabited for centuries is an important military and religious site.

There is pretty little you can see of ancient Philadelphia (it is the Greek name for the present Amman), but a visit to the citadel will give you an idea of the long history of this place. Citadel Hill is the site of the ruins of the Temple of Hercules and an Arab castle pertaining to the Omayyad dynasty. The awe-inspiring Roman amphitheater which used to seat about 6000 people at one time is flanked by the Museum of Popular Traditions and the Jordanian Folklore Museum. The Jordan Folklore Museum is in the right wing of the theater and displays a collection of items showing the traditional life of the local people. The Museum of Popular Traditions displays traditional Jordanian costumes, including fine embroidery and exquisite antique jewelry. The theater was built during the reign of Antonius Pius. The northern side of the hill once served as a necropolis or a graveyard. The theater is even used today for sports and cultural events.

Citadel Hill contains several impressive structures such as the Omayyad Palace, a small Byzantine basilica which was once the Temple of Hercules, and the Great Temple of Amman. The Byzantine Basilica Church which is located within the citadel was constructed in the late 6th century AD. The nave of the Church contained a few Corinthian columns, which could have been taken from earlier Roman temples. The temple was built during the reign of the emperor Marcus Aurelius, and the structure is presently under restoration. You will find the Jordan Archeological Museum which contains a beautiful collection of artifacts from across Jordan, some of them dating back to over 700,000 years ago. The Dead Sea Scrolls, the Iron Age Sarcophagi, and a copy of the Mesha Stele are its prime exhibits. If you were to climb up the hill from the Roman Theater, it will take you to an acropolis and the fortress of the ancient Rabbath-Ammon.

The most impressive building of Citadel Hill is the Al-Qasr or the Palace. The construction dates back to the Islamic Umayyad period. The palace includes a monumental gateway, a domed audience hall, and four vaulted chambers. The hall is shaped like a cross because it was built over a Byzantine church. The palace consisted of an extensive complex of royal and residential buildings. A colonnaded street runs through the entire complex. The ruins of the Umayyad Palace grounds would be found to the north and northeast. The palace used to be flanked by buildings which lead to more residential halls including the former governor’s residence. The foundation of a fairly large mosque which served the Omayyad Palace and its quarters can be seen within the citadel. It was a typical early-Islamic mosque with a spacious courtyard. All these buildings are presently in ruins having been destroyed by an earthquake in 749 AD.

When you are in Jordan, visit Citadel Hill and peep into Jordan’s history.