A Guide to History and Culture in Jordan Ahlan Wa Sahlan

Welcome to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, founded by carved from rock over 2000 years ago, it also offers much more King Abdullah I, and currently ruled by King Abdullah II son of for the modern traveller, from the Jordan Valley, fertile and ever the late King Hussein. Over the years, Jordan has grown into a changing, to the remote desert canyons, immense and still. stable, peaceful and modern country. Whether you are a thrill seeker, a historian, or you just want to relax, Jordan is the place for you. While Jordan is known for the ancient Nabataean city of Petra, Content

Introduction 2 Handicrafts 3 Cuisine 4 Amman 5 Madaba 8 Umm Ar-Rasas 9 Mukawir 10 Mount Nebo 10 The Dead Sea 11 Petra 12 As-Salt 14 Bethany Beyond the Jordan 15 Aqaba 16 Umm Jerash 17 Ar-Rasas Ajlun 19 Umm Al-Jimal 19 Pella 20 MAP LEGEND Umm Qays 20 Karak 21 Historical Site Showbak 21 Castle Desert Castles 22 Religious Site Hotel Accommodation Camping Facilities Showkak Airport Road Highway Railway

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Nature / Wildlife Reserve Jordan Tourism Board: Is open Sunday to Thursday (08:00-17:00). Petra, the new world wonder UNESCO, world heritage site 1 JORDAN’S HISTORY & CULTURE

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Handicrafts

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4 WWW.VISITJORDAN.COM AMMAN

AMMAN The ever-expanding city, originally built on seven hills, dates back to the Stone $JHZKHQRXU1HROLWKLFDQFHVWRUVURDPHGWKHHDUWK$PPDQH[HPSOLoHVWKH evolution, development and survival of a small city through its expansions during the Early Bronze Age, its development as a city state through the Iron Age and into its role in Assyrian, Babylonian and Persian empires. The city, known by several different names such as Amman, Ammon, Rabath-Ammon and Philadelphia, played key-roles in multiple civilizations. $V 3KLODGHOSKLD LW pRXULVKHG DV D PHPEHU RI 5RPH V 'HFDSROLV /HDJXH DQG was rebuilt with colonnaded streets, baths, theaters and impressive public buildings. During the Byzantine period it was the seat of a Christian bishop who oversaw the construction of two spectacular churches before being HPEUDFHGDVDSDUWRI,VODP VGRPDLQ:KLOHWKHULVHRIWKH0DPHOXNVRI(J\SW FDXVHGDGRZQWXUQIRUWKHFLW\ VVWDWXVLWVZHOFRPLQJRISHUVHFXWHG0XVOLPV from the Caucasus and the weakening of the Ottoman authority caused it to return to its former glory. On March 2, 1921, the Emirate of Transjordan came into existence, with Emir Abdullah, a Hashemite and direct descendant of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), as its undisputed leader. On May 25, 1946, the +DVKHPLWH.LQJGRPRI-RUGDQVHFXUHGLWVLQGHSHQGHQFHWKH(PLU VWLWOHZDV changed to King, and Amman became the capital of the Kingdom. Citadel

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The Royal Automobile Museum Art Gallery The Jordan Archaeological Museum

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v7KH5R\DO&XOWXUDO&HQWHU DID YOU KNOW? v$O%DODG7KHDWHU The Royal Film Commission of Jordan is a committee v&LW\+DOO5D V$O$LQ that aims to develop v5DVDO$LQ$UW*DOOHU\ the local production v7KH+D\D&XOWXUDO&HQWHUIRUNLGV industry by encouraging -RUGDQLDQV WR XVH oOP v7KH=DKD&XOWXUDO&HQWHUIRUNLGV and audio-visual media v(PLUDWHV&XOWXUDO&HQWHU to express their original v7XUNLVK&XOWXUDO&HQWHU ideas. The commission also v*RHWKH,QVWLWXWH provides opportunities for DXGLHQFHV DQG oOPPDNHUV v7KH)UHQFK&XOWXUDO&HQWHU to get together, watch v7KH%ULWLVK&RXQFLO LQGHSHQGHQW oOPV DQG v6SDQLVK&XOWXUDO&HQWHU exchange ideas. For more information: ZZZoOPMR Theatrical Performance in Amman

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Museum in Madaba Family Lunch in Madaba

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8 WWW.VISITJORDAN.COM UMM AR-RASAS

DID YOU KNOW? 6RPH RI WKH ZRUOG V earliest known churches have been recently discovered in Jordan. The remains of a mud- brick building in Aqaba PD\ EH WKH ZRUOG V oldest known purpose- built church. This Aqaba early church dates from the late 3rd or early 4th century AD.

Mosaics from Umm Ar-Rasas Umm Ar-Rasas

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10 WWW.VISITJORDAN.COM THE DEAD SEA

THE DEAD SEA The therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea, combined ZLWKWKH-RUGDQ9DOOH\ VIHUWLOHODQGDQGZDUPFOLPDWH KDYH DWWUDFWHG SHRSOH WR OLYH KXQW DQG IDUP LQ WKH DUHDDVHDUO\DVWKH6WRQH$JH2QHRIWKHZRUOG VPRVW DPD]LQJ SODFHV WKH 9DOOH\ LV D GUDPDWLF EHDXWLIXO DID YOU KNOW? ODQGVFDSHZKLFKDWWKH'HDG6HDLVRYHUP  In the Book of Genesis, IW EHORZVHDOHYHOPDNLQJLWWKHORZHVWSRLQWRQWKH God refers to the Jordan IDFHRIWKHHDUWK:KLOHRYHUDUFKDHRORJLFDOVLWHV River Valley around the Dead Sea, as the “Garden KDYHEHHQGLVFRYHUHGPDQ\PRUHDUHVWLOOZDLWLQJWR RI WKH /RUGy DQG LW be found. The area is full of biblically important sites is believed to be the DVLWLVZKHUH*RGoUVWVSRNHWRPDQZKHUH+HJDYH location of the Garden of His Ten Commandments to Moses, where Job suffered Eden. and was rewarded for his faith, and where Jacob ZUHVWOHGZLWKWKHDQJHORI*RG7KLVLVDOVRWKHVLWHRI ancient Sodom and Gomorrah, the site of the story of /RW DQG ZKHUH /RW V ZLIH ZDV WXUQHG LQWR D SLOODU RI salt. Salt Formations at the Dead Sea

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11 PETRA

PETRA The ancient city of Petra is one RI -RUGDQ V QDWLRQDO treasures and by far its best known tourist attraction. Located about three hours south of Amman, Petra is WKH OHJDF\ RI WKH 1DEDWDHDQV DQ LQGXVWULRXV $UDE people who settled in southern Jordan more than \HDUVDJR$GPLUHGWKHQIRULWVUHoQHGFXOWXUH PDVVLYHDUFKLWHFWXUHDQGLQJHQLRXVFRPSOH[RIGDPV DQG ZDWHU FKDQQHOV 3HWUD LV QRZ D 81(6&2 :RUOG +HULWDJHV6LWHDQGRQHRIWKHQHZ6HYHQ:RQGHUVRI WKH :RUOG ,QKDELWHG E\ WKH 1DEDWHDQV (GRPLWHV DQG 5RPDQV 3HWUD EURXJKW WRJHWKHU WKH NQRZOHGJH DQG VNLOO RI WKHVH FLYLOL]DWLRQV WR FUHDWH WKLV ZRUOG ZRQGHU&DUDYDQVODGHQZLWKLQFHQVHVLONVVSLFHVDQG RWKHUH[RWLFJRRGVZRXOGUHVWDW3HWUD%XWWKHLUPDLQ wealth came from the fact that Petra was an important KXEIRUWKHOXFUDWLYHWUDGHURXWHVWKDWOLQNHG&KLQDLQ the east with Rome in the west.

Petra By Night

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Historical Sites 3HWUD V PRVW IDPRXV PRQXPHQW WKH WRZHULQJ facade of the Treasury is only one of a myriad RIDUFKLWHFWXUDOZRQGHUVWREHH[SORUHG9LVLWRUV FDQ JUDVS WKH KLVWRU\ RI WKLV VSHFLoF DUHD E\ ZDONLQJ WR VLWHV OLNH k/LWWOH 3HWUDy DQG WKH OLWWOH DID YOU KNOW? PRQDVWHU\WRZLWQHVVWKHEHJLQQLQJVRIWKH5RVH :KLOHYLVLWLQJ3HWUDGXULQJ &LW\ 9DULRXV ZDONV DQG FOLPEV UHYHDO OLWHUDOO\ WKH GD\ LV DZHLQVSLULQJ 0DJQLoFHQW6LT/HDGLQJ8SWR7KH7UHDVXU\ H[SHULHQFLQJ LW DW QLJKW hundreds of tombs and temple façades, funerary E\ WKH OLJKW RI  KDOOVDQGUHOLHIVFDUYHGLQWRURFN2WKHUPXVWVHH candles is truly out of this ZRUOG :DON WKURXJK WKH structures include a 3000-seat theater from the 6LT WR $O.KD]QHK ZKLOH early 1st century AD, a Roman-style Palace Tomb, IROORZLQJ D FDQGOHOLW SDWK WR HQMR\ WKH KDXQWLQJ D JLJDQWLF VW FHQWXU\ PRQDVWHU\ DV ZHOO DV WKH music of the Bedouins at WKFHQWXU\VKULQHRI0RVHV VEURWKHU$DURQ the Treasury. Tours run three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Museums DQG7KXUVGD\VVWDUWLQJDW SP DQG HQGLQJ DW  v3HWUD$UFKDHRORJLFDO0XVHXP p.m. v3HWUD1DEDWDHDQ0XVHXP The Colonnaded Street

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Old Men Playing Mangala in Downtown As-Salt As-Salt Archaeological Museum

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14 WWW.VISITJORDAN.COM Bethany Beyond the Jordan

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15 Aqaba

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16 WWW.VISITJORDAN.COM JERASH

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AJLUN 7KHPDUYHOVRIQDWXUHDQGWKHJHQLXVRIPHGLHYDO$UDEPLOLWDU\DUFKLWHFWXUH KDYH JLYHQ QRUWKHUQ -RUGDQ WZR RI WKH PRVW LPSRUWDQW HFRORJLFDO DQG KLVWRULFDO DWWUDFWLRQV LQ WKH 0LGGOH (DVW 7KH VSUDZOLQJ SLQH IRUHVWV RI WKH $MOXQ'LEHHQ DUHD DQG WKH WRZHULQJ $\\XELG FDVWOH DW $MOXQ ZKLFK KHOSHG GHIHDWWKH&UXVDGHUVHLJKWFHQWXULHVDJR7KH$MOXQDUHDKDVDORQJKLVWRU\RI human settlement, due to its Mediterranean climate, dense forest and fertile Ajlun Castle VRLO7KLVULFKKLVWRU\LVUHpHFWHGLQWKHPDQ\DUFKDHRORJLFDOUXLQVVFDWWHUHGLQ WKHZRRGODQGVDQGVXUURXQGLQJYLOODJHV

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19 PELLA, UMM QAYS

UMM QAYS (Gadara) 3HUFKHGRQDPDUYHORXVKLOOWRSRYHUORRNLQJWKH-RUGDQ Valley and the Sea of Galilee, Umm Qays is the site RI -HVXV  *DGDUHQH VZLQH PLUDFOH ,W LV KHUH WKDW +H HQFRXQWHUHGDGHPHQWHGPDQZKROLYHGLQWKHWRPEV QHDUWKHHQWUDQFHWRWKHFLW\-HVXVFDVWWKHHYLOVSLULWV RXWRIWKHPDQDQGLQWRDKHUGRISLJVZKLFKWKHQUDQ down the hill into the waters of the Sea of Galilee and drowned.

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20 WWW.VISITJORDAN.COM KARAK, SHOWBAK

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21 DESERT UMAYYAD CASTLES, Quseir Amra

Quseir Amra Quseir Amra Interior

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Qasr Al-Azraq Crafted from local black basalt rocks, the Qasr $O$]UDT FDVWOH H[SORLWHG $]UDT V LPSRUWDQW VWUDWHJLF SRVLWLRQ DQG ZDWHU VRXUFHV :KLOH the present form of the castle dates back to WKHEHJLQQLQJRIWKHWKFHQWXU\&(WKHoUVW DID YOU KNOW? IRUWUHVV FRQVWUXFWHG KHUH LV WKRXJKW WR KDYH The fresco paintings EHHQ EXLOW E\ WKH 5RPDQV DURXQG  &( inside Quseir Amra are 4DVU$O$]UDT GXULQJWKHUHLJQRI'LRFOHWLDQ particularly important in that they offer a wealth of iconographic themes that Qasr Al-Kharrana are unrivalled in any other The purpose of Qasr Al-Kharrana remains contemporary monument. DQ HQLJPD WR DUFKDHRORJLVWV DQG KLVWRULDQV Because the frescoes represent a key historic WRWKLVGD\6RPHH[SHUWVEHOLHYHWKDWLWZDV moment of when Islamic D GHIHQVLYH IRUW RWKHUV D FDUDYDQVDU\ IRU art was still in its formative SDVVLQJ FDPHO WUDLQV ZKLOH RWKHUV PDLQWDLQ stages Qusier Amra is WKDWLWVHUYHGDVDUHWUHDWIRU8PD\\DGOHDGHUV listed as a UNESCO World to discuss state affairs. Heritage Site. Qasr Al-Kharrana

23 Qasr Al-Hallabat, Qasr Al-Mushatta

Qasr Al-Hallabat Qasr Al-Mushatta

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24 SUGGESTED ITINERARIES

1 Day Tour Options: 1. Jerash, Ajlun 2. Amman City Tour 3. Madaba, Mount Nebo, and Bethany Beyond the Jordan 3 Day Itinerary: Day 1. Amman, Madaba - Overnight in Amman Day 2. Petra - Overnight in Petra Day 3. Jerash, Ajlun - Overnight in Amman 5 Day Itinerary: Day 1. Amman, Karak - Overnight in Amman Day 2. Madaba, Mount Nebo, and Karak - Overnight at Petra Day 3. Petra - Overnight at Wadi Rum Day 4. Wadi Rum - Overnight Dead Sea Day 5. Bethany Beyond the Jordan

For more itineraries, please check our website www.VisitJordan.com Ancient city of Petra Jordan Tourism Board Tel : +(962-6) 5678444 Fax: +(962-6) 5678295 P.O.Box 830688 Amman 11183, Jordan email: [email protected] visitjordan www.visitjordan.com

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Copyright © Jordan Tourism Board 2013. All Rights Reserved. All text, images, graphics, and other materials within this brochure are subject to copyright and other intellectual property rights of the JTB. 7KHVHPDWHULDOVPD\QRWEHUHSURGXFHGGLVWULEXWHGRUPRGLoHGZLWKRXWWKHH[SUHVVZULWWHQSHUPLVVLRQRI-7%