Pella – Ancient Village
Pella is located about 78 miles to the north of Amman in Jordan is a village and a site of ancient ruins. It is situated on the banks of the Wadi Jirm and it is one of the most important archaeological sites in the region. Pella has been continuously inhabited for more than six thousand years, and the ruins that you see were from the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods. It is seen from the ruins that Pella was a prosperous village and a flourishing centre of commerce and trade and had established trade relationships with the important towns and cities on the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The area in and around Pella are very fertile and there is abundance of water in the area.
Pella which is situated in the hills that arise from the Jordan valley is known as ‘Tabaqat Fahl’ in Arabic. It is one of the most important of the excavation sites and it is the favorite of archeologists as this area is particularly rich in antiquities. Excavation teams have been working here for more than ten years and a lot of relics has been revealed, but the archeologists are of the opinion that there is still a lot that is still hidden. The excavations have revealed buildings and constructions of the Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic periods from the 2nd century to the 14th century AD, but archeologists strongly believe that these excavations stand on a much older site that could date back to 5,000 years BC. At the present time, you can see a few buildings, a few columns, and a small amphitheater, but archeologists predict that after the complete excavation and restoration is done, the place could be as large as Jerash.
The earliest reference to the city is seen in 19th century BC, when Pella was mentioned in Egyptian texts as Pihilum or Pehel. It was then a prosperous and affluent trade center and had business links with Syria, Cyprus, and Egypt. After Pompey’s conquest of the area, the prosperity of Pella increased. The trade routes improved and there was development of the local industries in the Byzantine ages. Some fine Umayyad pottery has been discovered here that was made in the kilns of Jerash. The city, which was earlier called Fihl, was conquered and destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. The place remained uninhabited for nearly three hundred years. Later, the city was rebuilt and given the name of Pella after the birthplace of Alexander the Great.
Pella is a very lovely place, especially in spring when the entire valley is filled with wild flowers and there is a riot of colors. It lies 18 miles south of the Sea of Galilee and the drive to the village is a very scenic one indeed. The valley has very fertile land and the topography serves as a natural barrier from the winds and severe winters.
Due to the influx of refugees to the area, Christianity gained importance in Pella when the Roman Empire began to decline. The transition from the Roman to the Byzantine era did not have much effect on the prosperity of the city. There was a transition from Byzantine to Muslim rule, and once under the Islamic rule, the name of the city was changed to Fihl once again. The deadly earthquake of 747 BC ended the long and glorious history of Pella.
