History & Culture Brochure

History & Culture

Ahlan Wa Sahlan

Welcome to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, founded by King Abdullah I, and currently ruled by King Abdullah II son of the late King Hussein. Over the years, Jordan has grown into a stable, peaceful and modern country.

While Jordan is known for the ancient Nabataean city of Petra,

carved from rock over 2000 years ago, it also offers much more for the modern traveller, from the Jordan Valley, fertile and ever changing, to the remote desert canyons, immense and still.

Whether you are a thrill seeker, a historian, or you just want to relax, Jordan is the place for you.

Content Introduction Handicrafts Cuisine Amman Madaba Umm Ar-足Rasas Mukawir Mount Nebo The Dead Sea Petra As-足Salt Bethany Beyond the Jordan Aqaba Jerash Ajlun Umm Al-足Jimal Pella Umm Qays Karak Showbak Desert Castles

2 3 4 5 8 9 10 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 19 19 20 20 21 21 22

Umm Ar-Rasas

MAP LEGEND Historical Site Castle Religious Site Hotel Accommodation Showkak

Camping Facilities Airport Road Highway Railway Bridge Nature / Wildlife Reserve

Jordan Tourism Board: Is open Sunday to Thursday (08:00-足17:00).

Petra, the new world wonder UNESCO, world heritage site

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JORDAN’S HISTORY & CULTURE Step back into time as you walk the paths of the Romans, Nabataeans, early ,VODPLF DQG ELEOLFDO oJXUHV DV \RX WUDYHO DURXQG -RUGDQ 7KH FRXQWU\ V KLVWRULFDO DQG FXOWXUDO ZHDOWK LV RYHUZKHOPLQJ DV LW HQYHORSHV \RX XSRQ DUULYDO ZLWK UXLQV RI DQFLHQW FLYLOL]DWLRQV UHOLJLRXV VLWHV DQG FXOWXUDO KRWSRWV $OWKRXJK PRVW RI WKHVH FLYLOL]DWLRQV KDYH ORQJ VLQFH EHHQ UHOHJDWHG WR WKH KLVWRU\ ERRNV WKH\ KDYH QRW EHHQ IRUJRWWHQ DV WKHLU IXVLRQ DQG HYROXWLRQ EURXJKW XSRQ WKH JUHDW FRXQWU\ RI -RUGDQ DV ZH NQRZ LW WRGD\ )URP WKH ancient Nabataean city of Petra, the miracle of the Dead Sea and Jordan 9DOOH\ WKH ZRQGHUV RI WKH 5HG 6HD DQG :DGL 5XP WR WKH oQH KRWHOV VKRSSLQJ FHQWHUV PXVHXPV DQG DUW JDOOHULHV RI PRGHUQ $PPDQ -RUGDQ WUXO\ LV D EOHQG of old and new, east and west, and an oasis of culture.

Citadel Interior

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Handicrafts

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Cuisine :KHUHYHU \RX DUH LQ -RUGDQ \RX UH QHYHU WRR IDU DZD\ IURP D FRQYHUVDWLRQ DERXW IRRG :KHWKHU WKH GLVFXVVLRQ LV D KHDWHG DUJXPHQW RQ WKH EXV\ VWUHHWV RI $PPDQ RYHU WKH FLW\ V EHVW NXQDIH RU RQH LQ WKH FRDVWDO WRZQV RI $TDED DV WKH catch of the day comes in, or in the most remote part of the Wadi Rum desert \RX OO GRXEWOHVVO\ HQG XS WDONLQJ DERXW IRRG DQG LI \RX UH WDONLQJ DERXW LW \RX UH PRUH WKDQ OLNHO\ WR EH HDWLQJ LW ZLWK \RXU -RUGDQLDQ KRVWV ODWHU A Family Enjoying the Jordanian National Dish: Mansaf Sit down with the bedouin in their desert tents, drink camel milk and eat mansaf WKH QDWLRQDO GLVK DQG \RX OO OHDUQ KRZ SHRSOH KDYH VXUYLYHG IRU FHQWXULHV LQ WKLV KDUVK ODQGVFDSH 7U\ EDNODYD SDVWULHV LQ DQ\ RI WKHLU IRUPV DQG \RX OO H[SHULHQFH WKH pDYRUV DQG UHFLSHV RI WKH 2WWRPDQ (PSLUH $QG LI \RX SLFN XS D PHQX LQ FRVPRSROLWDQ $PPDQ \RX OO VHH GLVKHV PDGH IDPRXV E\ GLIIHUHQW HWKQLFLWLHV within the Jordanian community, not to mention cuisine from all around the world. ,W PDWWHUV OLWWOH ZKHUH SHRSOH DUH IURP RU ZKDW ODQJXDJH WKH\ VSHDN ,Q -RUGDQ IRRG LV WKH ZRUG RQ HYHU\ERG\ V OLSV DQG DOO DUH ZHOFRPH WR MRLQ WKH GLVFXVVLRQ Mjadarra

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Sweets

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AMMAN AMMAN The ever-­expanding city, originally built on seven hills, dates back to the Stone $JH ZKHQ RXU 1HROLWKLF DQFHVWRUV URDPHG WKH HDUWK $PPDQ H[HPSOLoHV WKH 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.

Citadel

$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 HPEUDFHG DV D SDUW RI ,VODP V GRPDLQ :KLOH WKH ULVH RI WKH 0DPHOXNV RI (J\SW FDXVHG D GRZQWXUQ IRU WKH FLW\ V VWDWXV LWV ZHOFRPLQJ RI SHUVHFXWHG 0XVOLPV 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 .LQJGRP RI -RUGDQ VHFXUHG LWV LQGHSHQGHQFH WKH (PLU V WLWOH ZDV changed to King, and Amman became the capital of the Kingdom.

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AMMAN

The Royal Automobile Museum

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Art Gallery

The Jordan Archaeological Museum

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Cultural Centers $Q LQFUHDVLQJ QXPEHU RI YHQXHV DUH KRVWLQJ FXOWXUDO DFWLYLWLHV (QJOLVK ODQJXDJH QHZVSDSHUV 7KH -RUGDQ 7LPHV DQG 7KH 6WDU FDUU\ GHWDLOV RI LQGLYLGXDO HYHQWV v 7KH 5R\DO &XOWXUDO &HQWHU v $O %DODG 7KHDWHU v &LW\ +DOO 5D V $O $LQ v 5DV DO $LQ $UW *DOOHU\ v 7KH +D\D &XOWXUDO &HQWHU IRU NLGV v 7KH =DKD &XOWXUDO &HQWHU IRU NLGV v (PLUDWHV &XOWXUDO &HQWHU v 7XUNLVK &XOWXUDO &HQWHU v *RHWKH ,QVWLWXWH v 7KH )UHQFK &XOWXUDO &HQWHU v 7KH %ULWLVK &RXQFLO v 6SDQLVK &XOWXUDO &HQWHU Theatrical Performance in Amman

DID YOU KNOW?

The Royal Film Commission of Jordan is a committee that aims to develop the local production industry by encouraging -RUGDQLDQV WR XVH oOP and audio-­visual media to express their original ideas. The commission also provides opportunities for DXGLHQFHV DQG oOPPDNHUV to get together, watch LQGHSHQGHQW oOPV DQG exchange ideas.

For more information: ZZZ oOP MR

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Theaters & Film Industry

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Jordan boasts many theaters that are being nurtured by various cultural centers. Along ZLWK WKH RUJDQLF WKHDWHU VFHQH -RUGDQ LV YHU\ VXSSRUWLYH RI WKH oOP LQGXVWU\ DQG KROGV PDQ\ ZRUNVKRSV DV ZHOO DV IRUHLJQ DQG ORFDO oOP VFUHHQLQJV LQ FRRUGLQDWLRQ ZLWK WKH Royal Film Commission.

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MADABA MADABA 0DGDED WKH FLW\ RI PRVDLFV VLWXDWHG DORQJ WKH \HDU ROG .LQJ V +LJKZD\ LV RQH RI WKH PRVW PHPRUDEOH SODFHV LQ WKH +RO\ /DQG 7KH FLW\ KDV D ORQJ KLVWRU\ GDWLQJ EDFN WR WKH ERRN RI ([RGXV ZKHQ LW ZDV QDPHG DV RQH RI 0RDE V &LWLHV RI WKH 3ODLQ 7KH WRZQ ODWHU FRQTXHUHG E\ WKH 5RPDQV ZDV UHPRGHOHG LQ WKH W\SLFDO SURYLQFLDO VW\OH ZLWK FRORQQDGHG VWUHHWV WHPSOHV ODUJH FLVWHUQV DQG D WRZQ ZDOO St. George’s Church

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Museum in Madaba

Family Lunch in Madaba

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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

UMM AR-RASAS (Ancient Mayfa’a)

Historical Sites

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MUKAWIR, MOUNT NEBO MUKAWIR

Mukawir

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MOUNT NEBO 0RXQW 1HER WKH PRVW UHYHUHG KRO\ VLWH LQ -RUGDQ ZDV D SODFH RI SLOJULPDJH for early Christians for a myriad of reasons. This is the site where Moses YLHZHG WKH +RO\ /DQG DQG ZKHUH KH ZDV EHOLHYHG WR KDYH EHHQ EXULHG :DON LQ KLV IRRWVWHSV DQG ZLWQHVV UHOLJLRXV KLVWRU\ DW WKLV PRYLQJ ODQGPDUN

Franciscan Archaeological Institute

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Serpentine Cross/Mount Nebo

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Historical Sites

Archaeological Centers

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THE DEAD SEA THE DEAD SEA

Salt Formations at the Dead Sea

The therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea, combined ZLWK WKH -RUGDQ 9DOOH\ V IHUWLOH ODQG DQG ZDUP FOLPDWH KDYH DWWUDFWHG SHRSOH WR OLYH KXQW DQG IDUP LQ WKH DUHD DV HDUO\ DV WKH 6WRQH $JH 2QH RI WKH ZRUOG V PRVW DPD]LQJ SODFHV WKH 9DOOH\ LV D GUDPDWLF EHDXWLIXO ODQGVFDSH ZKLFK DW WKH 'HDG 6HD LV RYHU P IW EHORZ VHD OHYHO PDNLQJ LW WKH ORZHVW SRLQW RQ WKH IDFH RI WKH HDUWK :KLOH RYHU DUFKDHRORJLFDO VLWHV KDYH EHHQ GLVFRYHUHG PDQ\ PRUH DUH VWLOO ZDLWLQJ WR be found. The area is full of biblically important sites DV LW LV ZKHUH *RG oUVW VSRNH WR PDQ ZKHUH +H JDYH His Ten Commandments to Moses, where Job suffered and was rewarded for his faith, and where Jacob ZUHVWOHG ZLWK WKH DQJHO RI *RG 7KLV LV DOVR WKH VLWH RI ancient Sodom and Gomorrah, the site of the story of /RW DQG ZKHUH /RW V ZLIH ZDV WXUQHG LQWR D SLOODU RI salt.

DID YOU KNOW? In the Book of Genesis, God refers to the Jordan River Valley around the Dead Sea, as the “Garden RI WKH /RUG y DQG LW is believed to be the location of the Garden of Eden.

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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 \HDUV DJR $GPLUHG WKHQ IRU LWV UHoQHG FXOWXUH PDVVLYH DUFKLWHFWXUH DQG LQJHQLRXV FRPSOH[ RI GDPV DQG ZDWHU FKDQQHOV 3HWUD LV QRZ D 81(6&2 :RUOG +HULWDJHV 6LWH DQG RQH RI WKH QHZ 6HYHQ :RQGHUV RI 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 &DUDYDQV ODGHQ ZLWK LQFHQVH VLONV VSLFHV DQG RWKHU H[RWLF JRRGV ZRXOG UHVW DW 3HWUD %XW WKHLU PDLQ wealth came from the fact that Petra was an important KXE IRU WKH OXFUDWLYH WUDGH URXWHV WKDW OLQNHG &KLQD LQ the east with Rome in the west.

Petra By Night

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Historical Sites

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3HWUD V PRVW IDPRXV PRQXPHQW WKH WRZHULQJ facade of the Treasury is only one of a myriad RI DUFKLWHFWXUDO ZRQGHUV WR EH H[SORUHG 9LVLWRUV FDQ JUDVS WKH KLVWRU\ RI WKLV VSHFLoF DUHD E\ ZDONLQJ WR VLWHV OLNH k/LWWOH 3HWUDy DQG WKH OLWWOH PRQDVWHU\ WR ZLWQHVV WKH EHJLQQLQJV RI WKH 5RVH &LW\ 9DULRXV ZDONV DQG FOLPEV UHYHDO OLWHUDOO\ hundreds of tombs and temple façades, funerary KDOOV DQG UHOLHIV FDUYHG LQWR URFN 2WKHU PXVW VHH structures include a 3000-­seat theater from the early 1st century AD, a Roman-­style Palace Tomb, D JLJDQWLF VW FHQWXU\ PRQDVWHU\ DV ZHOO DV WKH WK FHQWXU\ VKULQH RI 0RVHV V EURWKHU $DURQ

Museums The Colonnaded Street 7UDGH FDUDYDQV ODGHQ ZRXOG EUHDN DW 3HWUD ZKLFK RIIHUHG D SOHQWLIXO VXSSO\ of water and protection from marauders. In return for their hospitality, the 1DEDWDHDQV LPSRVHG D WD[ RQ DOO JRRGV WKDW SDVVHG WKURXJK WKH FLW\ DQG JUHZ ZHDOWK\ IURP WKH SURFHHGV 3HWUD ODWHU pRXULVKHG XQGHU 5RPDQ UXOH DQG PDQ\ 5RPDQ VW\OH DPHQGPHQWV ZHUH PDGH WR WKH FLW\ LQFOXGLQJ WKH HQODUJHPHQW RI WKH WKHDWUH SDYLQJ RI WKH FRORQQDGHG VWUHHW DQG D WULXPSKDO DUFK ZDV EXLOW RYHU WKH HQWUDQFH WR WKH 6LT :KHQ WKH 5RPDQ (PSHURU +DGULDQ YLVLWHG WKH VLWH LQ 131 AD, he named it after himself, Hadrian Petra.

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DID YOU KNOW? :KLOH YLVLWLQJ 3HWUD GXULQJ WKH GD\ LV DZH LQVSLULQJ H[SHULHQFLQJ LW DW QLJKW E\ WKH OLJKW RI candles is truly out of this ZRUOG :DON WKURXJK WKH 6LT WR $O .KD]QHK ZKLOH IROORZLQJ D FDQGOHOLW SDWK WR HQMR\ WKH KDXQWLQJ music of the Bedouins at the Treasury. Tours run three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, DQG 7KXUVGD\V VWDUWLQJ DW SP DQG HQGLQJ DW p.m.

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AS-SALT AS-SALT

As-­Salt

Old Men Playing Mangala in Downtown As-­Salt

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As-­Salt Archaeological Museum

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Bethany Beyond the Jordan Bethany Beyond the Jordan +RPH WR VHYHUDO ELEOLFDO FLWLHV LQFOXGLQJ 6RGRP *RPRUUDK DQG =RDU WKH DUFKHRORJLFDO GLVFRYHULHV EHWZHHQ WKH -RUGDQ 5LYHU DQG 7DO DO .KDUUDU KDYH LGHQWLoHG WKLV DUHD DV %LEOLFDO k%HWKDQ\ %H\RQG WKH -RUGDQ y 7KH DUHD LV ZKHUH -RKQ ZDV OLYLQJ ZKHQ KH EDSWL]HG -HVXV 7DO $O .KDUUDU DOVR NQRZQ DV 7DU 0DU (OLDV ZDV QDPHG DIWHU WKH 3URSKHW (OLMDK ZKR DVFHQGHG WR KHDYHQ IURP WKLV YHU\ ORFDWLRQ ,I WKDW V QRW HQRXJK ELEOLFDO KLVWRU\ IRU RQH DUHD WKH FDYH ZKHUH /RW DQG KLV GDXJKWHUV WRRN UHIXJH after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is ORFDWHG MXVW RXWVLGH DQ DUHD FDOOHG 6Do %LEOLFDO =RDU

Bethany Beyond the Jordan

DID YOU KNOW?

During his visit to the Holy /DQG LQ +LV +ROLQHVV the late Pope John Paul II, held a sermon for the public at the Moses Memorial Church at Mount Nebo overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Holy /DQG )ROORZLQJ KLV YLVLW WR Jordan, the Pope declared Mount Nebo as an official 0LOOHQQLXP SLOJULPDJH site along with 4 others in Jordan: Bethany Beyond the Jordan, Anjara, Tall Mar Elias and Mukawir.

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Jerash Ruins During Springtime

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Ajlun Castle

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PELLA, UMM QAYS UMM QAYS (Gadara) 3HUFKHG RQ D PDUYHORXV KLOOWRS RYHUORRNLQJ WKH -RUGDQ Valley and the Sea of Galilee, Umm Qays is the site RI -HVXV *DGDUHQH VZLQH PLUDFOH ,W LV KHUH WKDW +H HQFRXQWHUHG D GHPHQWHG PDQ ZKR OLYHG LQ WKH WRPEV QHDU WKH HQWUDQFH WR WKH FLW\ -HVXV FDVW WKH HYLO VSLULWV RXW RI WKH PDQ DQG LQWR D KHUG RI SLJV ZKLFK WKHQ UDQ down the hill into the waters of the Sea of Galilee and drowned.

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Pella

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Umm Qays

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PELLA (Tabaqat Fahl)

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KARAK, SHOWBAK KARAK $V ,VODP H[SDQGHG EH\RQG WKH $UDELDQ 3HQLQVXOD FLYLOL]DWLRQV FODVKHG DQG PDUNHG .DUDN DV D VWUDWHJLF DUHD IRU EDWWOH )LUVW FRQWDFW EHWZHHQ ,VODP DQG QRQ $UDE %\]DQWLQHV LQ WKH WK FHQWXU\ OHDG WR VHYHUDO GHFLVLYH EDWWOHV LQFOXGLQJ 0X WD <DUPRXN DQG )DKO Karak Castle

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Museums Karak Archaeological Museum

Showbak Castle Arches

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DID YOU KNOW?

7KH -RUGDQLDQ pDJ V\PEROL]HV WKH .LQJGRP V roots in the Great Arab Revolt of 1916. The black, white, and green bands represent the Arab Abbasid, Umayyad and Fatimid eras respectively, while the crimson triangle joining the bands represents the Hashemite dynasty. The seven-­pointed Islamic star set in the center of the crimson triangle represents the seven verses of Surat Al-­ )DWLKD WKH oUVW 6XUD LQ WKH +RO\ 4XU DQ

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DESERT UMAYYAD CASTLES, Quseir Amra

Quseir Amra

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Quseir Amra Interior

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Quseir Amra

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Qasr Al-Azraq, Qasr Al-Kharrana Qasr Al-Azraq

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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 WKH EHJLQQLQJ RI WKH WK FHQWXU\ &( WKH oUVW IRUWUHVV FRQVWUXFWHG KHUH LV WKRXJKW WR KDYH EHHQ EXLOW E\ WKH 5RPDQV DURXQG &( GXULQJ WKH UHLJQ RI 'LRFOHWLDQ

Qasr Al-Kharrana

Qasr Al-­Kharrana

The purpose of Qasr Al-­Kharrana remains DQ HQLJPD WR DUFKDHRORJLVWV DQG KLVWRULDQV WR WKLV GD\ 6RPH H[SHUWV EHOLHYH WKDW LW ZDV D GHIHQVLYH IRUW RWKHUV D FDUDYDQVDU\ IRU SDVVLQJ FDPHO WUDLQV ZKLOH RWKHUV PDLQWDLQ WKDW LW VHUYHG DV D UHWUHDW IRU 8PD\\DG OHDGHUV to discuss state affairs.

DID YOU KNOW? The fresco paintings inside Quseir Amra are particularly important in that they offer a wealth of iconographic themes that are unrivalled in any other contemporary monument.

Because the frescoes represent a key historic moment of when Islamic art was still in its formative stages Qusier Amra is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

23

Qasr Al-Hallabat, Qasr Al-Mushatta

Qasr Al-­Hallabat

24

Qasr Al-­Mushatta

Qasr Al-Hallabat

Qasr Al-Mushatta

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This castle presents the most complete fusion of Iraqi, Sasanian, Coptic DQG &ODVVLFDO LQpXHQFHV FKDUDFWHULVWLF RI 8PD\\DG DUFKLWHFWXUH 7KH PRVW UHPDUNDEOH IHDWXUH RI 4DVU $O 0XVKDWWD LV WKH GHOLFDWHO\ FDUYHG VWRQH ID¶DGH WKDW XVHG WR VWDQG EHWZHHQ WKH VHPLFLUFXODU EXWWUHVVHV WKDW pDQN HLWKHU VLGH RI the entrance towers.

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: info@visitjordan.com visitjordan www.visitjordan.com

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Copyright Š 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. 7KHVH PDWHULDOV PD\ QRW EH UHSURGXFHG GLVWULEXWHG RU PRGLoHG ZLWKRXW WKH H[SUHVV ZULWWHQ SHUPLVVLRQ RI -7%