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Tons of History
عاش الاردن عزيزا منيعا
عن كل يد حقد
"There is no mistaking the fact that Jordan is a Kingdom steeped in history and culture. From the
moment you arrive, you get a sense of its rich heritage, all around are remnants of ancient civilizations long since past,
yet they still remain, stamped into the very fabric of this amazing Kingdom and etched into the soul of the people who live
here".
اردني للعظم
Jordan oozes with History
أفتخر واعتز انني اردني
"The Kingdom itself may be young, but the people
who inhabit it have, like their ruling family, an immensely long and distinguished past. The land that is now Jordan lies
in a position of great strategic and geographic importance, a crossroads where the Spice and Silk Routes from eastern Asia
to the Mediterranean met the north-south axis of the trade routes from Turkey and Syria down to Arabia and Yemen.
Jordan was home to the earliest Stone Age settled farming communities; to the great
Bronze Age fortified cities whose distant memory comes down to us through the later Iron Age texts of the Bible; to the warring
successors of Alexander the Great; to the Roman legions of Trajan and later Emperors; and most importantly, because of the
unique position they occupy in world architectural history, to the Nabataeans. The remains of all these civilisations lie
scattered around the deserts and mountains of Jordan, and can be found by anyone with open eyes and an enquiring mind".
Real Answers to Real Questions
أردن - سعيد عقل
أردن أرض
العزم أغنية الذبى نبت
السيوف وحد سيفك ما نبا
في حجم بعض الورد إلا إنه
لك شوكة ردت إلى الشرق
الصبا
فرضت على الدنيا
البطولة مشتهى و عليك
دينا لا يخان و مذهبا
وفدت
تطالبني بشعر لدنة سمراء
لوحها الملام و ذوبا
من
أي أهل أنت قالت من الأولى
رفضوا و لم تغمد بكفهم
الشبا
فعرفتها و عرفت
نشأة أمة ضربت على شرف
فطابت مضربا
غنيتها كل
الطيور لها ضحى و يكون
ليل فالطيور إلى الخبا
إلاك أنت فلا صباح و لا
مسا إلا في يدك السلاح
له نبا
شيم أقول نسيم أرز
هزني و أشد كالدنيا إلى
تلك الربى
Jordan is a land with an overwhelming amount of history
The Edomites ruled southern Jordan; the Moabites settled in the centre of the
country; and the Amorites had their capital at Hisban, south of Amman; the Ammonites controlled the area around Amman; and
the Kingdom of Gilead reigned in the northern region around the Zerqa River. The Arab Nabataeans established their kingdom
in southern Jordan at the end of the 1st Millennium BC, with its secure capital at Petra, but finally succumbed to Roman control
in the early 2nd Century AD
The Hashemite kingdom of Jordan evokes a simpler time, a sense of place and a cherished way
of life. Immediately upon arrival, the visitor is aware of the inherent hospitality of the Jordanian people as exemplified
by the Arabic "Ahlan wa sahlan" heard at every turn.
Jordan is a unique and blessed land of the Old and New Testaments and the early years of Islam.
The litany of ancient place names reads like a biblical gazetteer-Edom, Moab, Ammon, Gilead, Gad and Peraea. The Medeba of
the Bible is today the small town of Madaba, only 30 Kilometers south of Amman, Remains of the Roman road and civic architecture
can still be seen in the midst of the modern town, but it is the Byzantine and Ummayyad mosaics for which Madaba is best known.
At
the Greek Orthodox Church of
St. George visitors may view the earliest surviving original map of the Holy Land, which was
made around A.D 560. In addition, there are other mosaic floors preserved throughout the town, as well as a fine local museum.
الاردن الجسد العربي
الاصيل أحتضنت الشعوب
بمحبة , اللهم احفظها من
عبث العابثين
Jordan Tourist Information
Useful Jordan Traveller information
Jordanian Tours Guides
"Jordan oozes with History.
It was an important part of the Roman Empire
and the heart of trade routes between Europe and Asia.
Some Examples:
Mount Nebo:reputed to be the place where
Moses died
Ruth, the Moabite ancestor of King David, came from what is now a central region of Jordan.
Herod
the Great, came from what is now the southern part of the country;
Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in Jordan.
The
Nabateans, who predated the Romans built Petra
Hellenistic/Roman ruined city of Jerash (ancient Gerasa), which hosts
a world-famous festival of Western and Middle Eastern performing arts each July.
Byzantine mosaics at Medaba.
In
the Middle ages, the crusaders, swept in from Jerusalem built the most formidable of their mountaintop castles at Kerak.
The
wonder of Wadi Rum :backdrop for the filming of Lawrence of Arabia
So, lots to do. lots to explore. Bring some sunscreen
and a hat and a sturdy pair of shoes!"
Jordan Culture
Jordanian Tourism Website
jordanian guide
Indigenous hardiness structures and state formation in Jordan
ونحن نتنفس هواء الاردن
.. ونعيش بالاردن .. وولدنا
بالاردن
ونفرح بالاردن
.. ونبكي بالاردن .. الذي نحب
ونهوى ونعشق
My Country...
Jordan is a magnificent country, that has a lot to offer for anyone who loves culture or a bit of adventure. Stand on top
of Mount Nebo, from which Moses saw the Holy Land. Experience the glory and splendor of Ancient Rome in Jerash. Follow the
footsteps of Indiana Jones in Petra, the rose-red city half as old as time. Ride a camel or a landrover through the alien
landscapes of Wadi Rum, the most beautiful desert in the world. Go diving in Aqaba and see lots of multi-coloured corals and
tropical fish. Float on your back in the Dead Sea reading a newspaper. Compare the Crusader castles with the Arabic castles
against crusaders. Be invited by a Bedouin family for tea. And more ...
and splendor of Ancient Rome in Jerash. Follow
the footsteps of Indiana Jones in Petra, the rose-red city half as old as time. Ride a camel or a landrover through the alien
landscapes of Wadi Rum, the most beautiful desert in the world. Go diving in Aqaba and see lots of multi-coloured corals and
tropical fish. Float on your back in the Dead Sea reading a newspaper. Compare the Crusader castles with the Arabic castles
against crusaders. Be invited by a Bedouin family for tea. And more ...
JOURNY TO JORDAN
Jordan is the best business location in the entire Middle East: Friendly and reliable people,
total security, good infrastructures and a strong inclination toward small business.
Although Jordan does not possess oil and raw materials ( except salt
and phosphates), the GDP per capita is one of the higher in the arab world. According to our theory, this situation illustrates
the fact that creativity, good governance and friendly business are more important than any raw materials!
What is more, the Hachemite Kingdom
could play a major role in the future reshaping of the Middle East. It's another reason for investing in this beautiful and
friendly country. For information, contact Amman Chamber
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Keys to the Kingdom
Jordan is a land steeped in history. It has been home to some of mankind's earliest settlements
and villages, and relics of many of the world's great civilizations can still be seen today. As the crossroads of the Middle
East, the lands of Jordan and Palestine have served as a strategic nexus connecting Asia, Africa and Europe. Thus, since the
dawn of civilization, Jordan's geography has given it an important role to play as a conduit for trade and communications,
connecting east and west, north and south. Jordan continues to play this role today.
Because of its centralized location,
the land of Jordan is a geographic prize which changed hands many times throughout antiquity. Parts of Jordan were included
in the dominions of ancient Iraq, including the Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian and Mesopotamian Empires. From the
west, Pharaonic Egypt extended its power and culture into Jordan, while the nomadic Nabateans built their empire in Jordan
after migrating from the south of the Arabian peninsula. Finally, Jordan was incorporated into the classical civilizations
of Greece, Rome and Persia, the relics of which are scattered across the Jordanian landscape. Since the mid-seventh century
CE, the land of Jordan has remained almost continuously in the hands of various Arab and Islamic dynasties.
The second
geographical factor which has helped shape the history of Jordan concerns climate. Only the northern highlands and the Jordan
Valley have received enough rainfall to support large populations. Therefore, this area has always been more settled by farmers,
villagers and townspeople. Most of the urban civilizations of Jordan have been based in these fertile lands. To the south
and east, meanwhile, there is very little rainfall and no rivers for irrigation. These desert areas, which comprise the majority
of Jordan, have rarely supported large settled populations. In some periods, there appears to have been no settled population
at all. The lifestyle of the Bedouin inhabitants of these desert lands has remained similar in some respects to that of their
Edomite or Nabatean predecessors. The contrast between the pastoral "desert" and agriculturally fertile lands is
particularly pronounced in Jordan, and much of the area's history can be linked to population shifts between large urban centers
and more dispersed, nomadic tribal groups.
Weather in Queen Alia Airport, Jordan
Amman, Jordan - Yahoo! User Ratings & Reviews
Mansaf
Turath
see-jordan
welcome to Salt
city of AL KARAK
irbid
Madaba Plains Project
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KINGDOM OF JORDAN
Jordan is a Middle Eastern country of 92,300 sq km situated in the great land bridge between Europe,
Africa and Asia. It is bounded on the north by Syria, on the north-east by Iraq, on the east and south by Saudi Arabia, and
on the west by Israel and the Palestinian National Authority. Six percent of the land is arable. The Kingdom's terrain provides
a range of landscapes and climates. The Badia Plains lie to the east with mountains in the centre. In the west the Jordan
River flows through its fertile valley into the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. The Port of Aqaba in the south gives
Jordan a narrow outlet to the Red Sea
DEMOGRAPHICS :
Jordan's population in 1994 was 4.1 million (Amman 1.27m, Zarqa 0.61m). The population growth rate
is 4.4 percent per annum.
CLIMATE :
The country shares with its neighbours the climate of the eastern
Mediterranean. Amman enjoys sunny, cloudless weather from May to early November, with warm days and cool evenings. Winters
can be cold and wet in Amman and the hilly areas, with rain falling regularly from late November to early April. In this period,
Aqaba (on the Red Sea) and the Jordan Valley are the frequented winter resorts.
LANGUAGE :
Arabic is
the official language in Jordan. English is taught at schools as a second language, and is widely used in governmental correspondence
with international organisations and by most private sector companies.
RELIGION :
Islam is the kingdom's
main religion, constituting 94% of the population. The constitution provides for the respect of all religions with no discrimination.
Christians make up the remaining 6% of the population with more than 70 churches through out the Kingdom. These include churches
for Greek Orthodox, Protestants, Greek Catholics, Baptists Evangelical Christians, Evangelical Episcopal, Roman Catholics
and Seventh Day Adventists.
MEDIA & PRESS :
There are two television channels, one Arabic and the
other, a foreign language service wich broadcasts in English, French and Hebrew. Broadcasts from other countries are also
available. They include the Arabic and English channels of Syria, and Israel. Television advertising is allowed and there
are no restrictions on the ownership of satellite dishes, which is a growing trend in the country. Radio Jordan broadcasts
three channels in Arabic, English, and French.
Newspapers are circulated daily in both Arabic and English. Major
Arabic newspapers include Al-Rai, Al-Dustour and Aswaq. The Jordan Times, an English language newspaper is published daily,
and the Star, also in English is published weekly. Local variety and specialised magazines are growing in number and scope
and are gaining wider readership, Magazines catering to the expatriate community are also flourishing.
CURRENCY
Currency Unit ; Jordanian Dinar (JD) = 1,000 Fils
Currency Equivalent; 1 JD is about US $ 1.42
Currency
notes available; JDs 20, 10, 5, 1 and 500 Fils
Coins available ; 1 JD , and Fils 500, 250, 100, 50, 25 and 5
TIME :
Winter : Greenwich + 2 hours
Summer: Greenwich + 3 hours
WORKING DAYS :
Working days are Saturdays through Thursdays. Friday is the official weekend holiday. Other official public holidays are
spread throughout the year totalling 14 days.
WORKING HOURS :
Government offices: 8.00 am - 2.00 p.m.
Some Government Off.: 7.30 am - 3.00 p.m.
Private Sector 8.30 am - 1.30 p.m. (winter)
3.00p.m.
- 6.00 p,m.
8.00am - 1.00 p.m. (summer)
3.30p.m. - 6.30 p.m.
Banks: 8.30 am - 12-30 p.m.
3.30p.m.
- 5.00 p.m. (winter)
4.00p.m. - 5.30 p.m.(summer)
(Some companies close on Sunday and Thursday afternoons)
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS :
Government offices, banks and most businesses remain closed on religious holidays.
Based on the lunar Hijra calendar, the dates of Islamic holidays vary from year to year. The Eastern calendar is used for
Christian holidays. National holidays are set according to the Gregorian calendar. Since the Hijra calendar is 11 days shorter
than the Gregorian calendar, Islamic holidays fall 11 days earlier each year. However, the actual days may still vary since
they depend on the sighting of the moon. The Eastern calendar can be as much as a month behind the Gregorian calendar.
Official Holidays;
May 1st Labour Day
May 2nd Anniversary of King Hussein's assumption of
constitutional powers
May 25 Independence Day
June 10 Anniversary of the Great Arab Revolt
August
11 Anniversary of King Hussein's accession to the throne
Nov. 14 King Hussein's birthday
Eid Al-Fitr *
Eid Al Adha *
The Prophet's birthday *
Anniversary of the prophet nocturnal journey *
Islamic
New Year *
* (These holidays depend on the Islamic calendar " Hijra" )
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
:
The metric scale system is used throughout the Kingdom; Kilograms (kg), Metric Ton (ton), Meter (m), Kilometre
(km), Square Meter ,Donum (1,000 Square Meters), Hectare"ha" (10 donum).
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al-jordan.com
 TM
JOURNEY TO JORDAN
by Paris Permenter and John Bigley
After the mid-December arrest of terrorists in Jordan, many of our friends doubted the wisdom of a trip
to the destination just over a month later. We continued with our plans to visit the Middle East nation.
It was a wise choice. For the next week, we enjoyed the hospitality of the friendly Jordanians. Landing
in the capital city of Amman, we were greeted with a clean, modern city, a place where all travelers are welcome.
"We do understand the sensitivity of the area and the concern people in America would have in planning
a trip to this area," Marwan Khoury, managing director of the Jordan Tourist Board, told us over dinner in Amman's elegant
Ristorante Romero. The candlelit restaurant was filled with both an international and a local crowd enjoying fine dining and
an extensive wine list, somewhat of a surprise in an Islamic country. "People's perception is that Jordan is part of the Middle
East terrorist problem. However, we are a safe and peaceful country, a modern land."
We went out to see for ourselves--to explore the land that is filled with cultural, religious and natural
attractions.
Amman
 "People say Amman is one of the cleanest and most organized cities in the Middle East," explained our knowledgeable guide,
Kamel Juyusi. Sometimes nicknamed the "white city" for its use of limestone, the modern capital sprawls across 21 hills. In
the hills lie many of Amman's top hotels, such as the Grand Hyatt and the Radisson SAS, with more internationally recognized
chains under construction.
The hills also are home to many of the city's historic sites. We headed to the Citadel, where the Temple
of Hercules has overlooked the region since 156 AD. Beneath the temple lie the remains of a 6th century BC temple built to
replace an earlier temple destroyed by King David.
Standing just yards from the temple columns, we had a sweeping view of the city, from the Raghdan Palace
where King Hussein now lies buried in a simple grave, to the bustling Hashemite Courtyard, filled with midday shoppers and
local residents enjoying a cup of coffee (an omnipresent sight of hospitality throughout Jordan.). We could also view our
next stop, an amphitheater built to seat 6000 Romans. But before exploring the rest of the city, we first made a stop at the
Jordan Museum. Compact enough to be seen in about an hour, the museum is best known for its exhibits of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Jarash
 Heading north of Amman, we continued to Jordan's second most visited site: Jarash. Located just 45 minutes from the Syrian
border, the site was one of the Middle East's most prosperous cities in the 2nd century with over 30,000 residents. Today
the ancient city is well worth a day trip from Amman.
"Here you feel like a Roman walking through history," explained Kamel. "You can imagine how many people
traveled through here -- you can even still see the chariot tracks." We followed those tracks down the Roman Cardo, lined
with ancient columns.
From Jarash it was a short drive to the town of Ajloun and to one of Jordan's most beautiful castles. Tucked
high on pine forested hilltop, the Qala'at Ar-Rabador Castle of Ajloun was built in 1184. From its lofty heights, we could
view the Jordan Valley; in the distance, obscured that day by haze, lay Tiberias Lake or the Sea of Galillee.
Madaba
 The next day we headed south of Amman to Madaba, nicknamed the "City of Mosaics." We quickly learned why.
The city is home to hundreds of mosaics dating from the 5th through the 7th centuries but the most famous
is in the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George. Although only a portion of the original 25 x 5 meter map remains today, the
map assisted Biblical scholars in locating sites throughout the region.
Like a treasure map, the mosaic of St. George's Church once held the secrets of many holy sites. Constructed
in the 6th century of two million stone pieces, the mosaic map depicts sites such as the cave where Lot and his family hid
as well as more distant locations such as the Nile Delta.
Just 10 minutes from Madaba lies Mount Nebo. Soon to be the site of a papal visit, Mount Nebo is thought
to have been the place of Moses' death. A chapel filled with mosaics was built here by Byzantine Christians but the most important
part of the site lies outside-- the view Moses once enjoyed across the Jordan Valley and across to Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
Baptismal Site
 Jordan's newest attraction is also one of its oldest. The Jordan River Baptismal Site was long off limits to both travelers
and archaeologists, due to thousands of land mines that dotted the area. After a peace treaty with Israel and two years of
clearing the mines, archaeologists began to excavate the site of Bethany where John the Baptist is said to have baptized Jesus
Christ.
With a spring 2000 opening of the site and a planned visitors center, the baptismal site will welcome travelers--but
not for the first time. "This site had pilgrims from the late 4th century," said Sa'ad Hadidi, archaeological inspector. Those
early pilgrims built baptismal baths and today's visitors will see those stone structures, followed by a tractor ride to the
river itself.
Petra
 If travelers know of just one site in Jordan, it is Petra, known to moviegoers as the place Indiana Jones gallops through
in "The Last Crusade."
We felt like explorers ourselves heading into the quiet sik, the stone chasm, in the early morning before
the crowds of day trippers arrived. With only the occasional clop of horses' hooves echoing against the canyon walls, we made
our way into the siq, a narrow passage with pink sandstone walls. Once caravans filled with treasures from Africa and Asia
made their way through this passage to trade with the Nabateans, the residents of Petra. Over 2,000 years ago, these
traders carved their city into the soft rock, constructing elaborate buildings and tombs using a mixture of Greek, Roman and
Egyptian styles they had admired on their travels.
Soon we got a peek at the most recognized site at Petra: the Treasury. Carved using only a chisel and hammer,
the urn atop the magnificent building was thought to have housed a pharoah's wealth. Although it is the most recognized site
at Petra, the Treasury is just one attraction in this park that contains everything from royal tombs to a Roman amphitheater
to mosaics.
"Taxi, taxi," a young boy shouted at us from atop a donkey. Accepting his offer, we rode sure-footed donkeys
up steep paths to the hilltop where one of Petra's largest buildings is carved in a cliffside. The massive Monastery, similar
in appearance to the Treasury but on a grander scale, is seen by far fewer travelers than its better known cousin. From here,
travelers can take a path to a lookout for a view of Mount Aaron, where the brother of Moses died.
Wadi Rum
 Just over an hour's drive from Petra lies Jordan's sand desert--Wadi Rum. If this site looks familiar, it's also due to the
big screen. Lawrence of Arabia was filmed here--at the very site where the British soldier helped lead the Arab revolt against
the Turks during World War I.
Four wheel drive vehicles take visitors off for a look at Wadi Rum's wonders; more adventurous travelers
can head out on camelback for a view of the desert. Today Wadi Rum remains just as T.E.Lawrence first described it: "vast,
echoing, and God-like."
In many ways, it was a description that would fit the country of Jordan as well. In a week of exploration,
we had just touched on the country that offers so many historic sites. And while it was the lure of those ancient sites that
brought us to this country, it was the friendliness of the Jordanian people that stood out most in our minds.
We'll be back.
For more about travel in Jordan, see the Jordan Tourist Board site at http://www.seejordan.org
http://www.parisandjohn.com
Images by Paris Permenter and John Bigley
How to travel by train from London to Jordan . . .
Focus on Jordan
Jordanian Cuisine
Karak homepage
Madaba
See-Jordan.com
1stJordan.net
Jordan tv
JordanDrs.com
JordanNet
JordanDvNet
El-maghtas
mozaiic
int@j
AmmanCultural2002
AMIR program
jordanian links
أنـــــــــــا الأردن
اســــــــــــــــــــم
وهويــــــــــــــــــة
أنــــا
اسمـــــــــــــي بالكتـــب
السمــــــــــــــاوية
أنــــا
ولادي اردنــــــــي
واردنيــــــــــــــــــــة
أنــــــا
تاجـــــــي مملكـــــــــــــــة
هاشميــــــــــــــــــــــة
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