The Citadel (Jebel al-Qala'a) is on the highest hill in Amman (the city is on 7 hills, like Rome.) It dates back to Neolothic settlements, and is the site of ancient Rabbath-Ammon from the Bronze age. Surrounded by walls, it was rebuilt many times, during the Bronze, Iron, Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad periods.
The Roman Temple of Hercules has imposing pillars, once connected to the Forum, and was built during the reign of Marcus Aurelius (161-80 AD). A lookout platform was built with a great view to spot invading armies! The enormous 4' hand of Hercules greets the visitor to the National Museum of Archaeology on the Citadel, and is the only part of his statue that has been found to date. They are still looking for the rest of his body!
The largest standing building is the Umayyad Palace, 720 AD, which was a complex of royal and residential buildings, home to the ancient governor of Amman, however destroyed by an earthquake in 749 AD. An impressive large domed audience hall greets visitors to the royal palace. Shaped as a cross, it was built over a Byzantine church. A courtyard leads to a wide collonaded street, with many arches and Corinthian columns. North is the former governor's residence. The Umayyad Cistern is an enormous stone circular hole used as a reservoir that held 250,000 gllons of water, with a disc on the floor below that once held a tall pillar used to measure water for management and distribution; there are turkish baths, residences, Arab toilets, stone beds (once covered with soft mattresses) and even horse stables to be seen. It is a breathtaking site - and an art historian's dream! The guide was excellent - a Security Policeman who had been an archeology major in university - and also very handsome! The students really enjoyed the trip.
Most of the monuments were destroyed by earthquakes - and as I was posting this I read we had an earthquake in Amman last weel - but I didn't notice!
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