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History |
| Philadelphia (Amman)
Amman, capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, stands on the ruins of the Decapolis city known as Philadelphia. This Greco-Roman city in turn was built in the ruins of the ancient city of Rabbath-ammon, the capital of the Ammonites in the time of David. Surviving monuments include a huge theater dedicated to Antoninus Pius V. It has a seating capacity of six thousand. The Department of Antiquities of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has not only carefully excavated the site but also restored much of it. They continue to clear away the rubble from the forum, which was nearby, north and west of the theater. East of the theater are the ruins of an odeum. Remains of a nymphaeum and bath are also a part of the complex. Also at ancient Philadelphia a joint excavation effort on the part of the American Center of Oriental Research (ASOR) in Amman, the University of Jordan, and the Department of Antiquities has centered in recovering evidence on the Citadel. These groups have been working since 1968 on Jebel el-Qala', the modern Arabic name for the huge mound towering above the modern city and known now as the Citadel. From these efforts comes evidence from the Byzantine, Roman, and Hellenistic periods to make additional contribution to our understanding of the area during New Testament times. Especially prominent on the Citadel is the temple of Heracles. With all this archaeological evidence from these early centuries, we are not surprised to learn that in a later period this ancient Ammonite center was the seat of a Christian bishopric. If Jesus' itinerary included Philadelphia, the city existing there at the time would have presented many features familiar to residents of other Greco-Roman communities. These features also assist those interpreting the finds at Abila. |
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