31/08/2025
Amman Through History
• Ammonite Kingdom (c. 1200 BC – 550 BC)
Amman was known as Rabbath-Ammon, the capital of the Ammonites, an ancient Semitic people mentioned in the Bible. It was a fortified city and an important political and cultural center in the region.
• Hellenistic & Roman Periods (c. 300 BC – 400 AD)
Under the Greeks, the city was renamed Philadelphia by Ptolemy II Philadelphus. During the Roman era, it flourished as part of the Decapolis (a league of 10 important cities). The Romans built impressive structures such as the Roman Theatre, Odeon, and Nymphaeum, many of which remain today.
• Byzantine & Islamic Eras (c. 400 – 1200 AD)
Philadelphia became a Byzantine Christian center, with churches and mosaics. After the Islamic conquest in the 7th century, it gradually returned to the name Amman. The Umayyads left their mark with the grand Umayyad Palace at the Citadel.
• Ottoman Period (1516 – 1917)
Amman declined for centuries and was nearly abandoned, becoming a small village by the 19th century.
• Modern Amman (20th Century – Today)
In 1878, Circassian refugees settled in Amman, reviving the town. With the establishment of the Emirate of Transjordan in 1921, Amman was chosen as the capital. Since then, it has grown rapidly into Jordan’s largest city and political, cultural, and economic center, now home to over 4 million people.
