Archaeological sights in Jordan
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Petra
Petra is the sort of place that usually exists only in the imagination. This unique ancient city was hewn from a towering rock wall; few of the imposing facades of its great buildings are freestanding. Make sure you take as much film as you can carry because every nook and cranny is a Kodak moment.
It's hard to overrate Petra. There's no other sight in Jordan, or perhaps the whole Middle East, as compelling - the locals know it, and they'll charge you accordingly. Once the capital of the Nabateaeans, a 3rd century BC Arab dynasty, Petra was forgotten for 1000 years and only rediscovered in 1812. It raised its public profile with an appearance in the movie Indiana Jones &…
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Ruins at Jerash
The ruins at Jerash (known in Roman times as Gerasa) are one of Jordan's major attractions and still have the power to evoke the ghosts of Rome. It's one of the best examples in the Middle East of a Roman provincial city, and is remarkably well preserved.
In its heyday, Jerash (known in Roman times as Gerasa) had a population of 15,000 to 20,000 inhabitants and, although it wasn't on any major trade route, its citizens prospered from the good agricultural land that surrounded it. The ancient walled city that survives today was the administrative, commercial, civic and religious centre of Jerash. The bulk of the inhabitants lived on the eastern side of Wadi Jerash (now the…
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Temple of Hercules
About 100m south of the basilica, in the neighbourhood of the Citadel, are the remaining pillars of the Roman Temple of Hercules. Once connected to the Forum, the temple was built during the reign of Marcus Aurelius (AD 161-80). The only obvious remains are parts of the podium and the columns, which are visible from around town. Nearby is a lookout with great views.
Although it looks close to Downtown, the only access roads to the Citadel are from Al-Malek Ali bin al-Hussein St. It's better to hire a taxi for the trip up. If you decide to walk it's much easier headed downhill. Steps lead down from east of the Citadel complex, past a viewing platform to Hashemi St,…
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Tell Madaba
This important archaeological site in the heart of Madaba is still under excavation and there's not much to see. Like many sites around Madaba, it was discovered by accident by a local when he started digging the foundations for his house. It contains remains of a Byzantine villa and parts of an Iron Age wall or fortification, the largest of its kind in Jordan and visible from above the arch on the top level.
To get the most from this site you'll need a trained eye. Tread carefully as much remains to be excavated.
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Ayla
Along the Corniche, and incongruously squeezed between the marina and the Mövenpick Resort, is the site of Ayla, the early medieval port of Aqaba. The ruins are limited, but worth a quick look if you're in the area. Helpful noticeboards in English clearly pinpoint items of interest and put the place in some perspective. At the back of the parking space behind the JETT bus office is another small section of the old city, including the city wall and the ancient church.
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Odeon
On the eastern side of what was the Forum stands the 500-seat Odeon. Built in the 2nd century AD, it served mainly as a venue for musical performances. The small amphitheatre was probably enclosed with a wooden or temporary tent roof to shield the performers and audience from the elements.
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Archaeological Park
Some careful restoration and excavation in the early 1990s led to the creation of the Archaeological Park, a collection of ruins and mosaics from the Madaba area.
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