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The Citadel (Jabal Al-Qal’a), in the heart of Amman,
Jordan is the home of ruins ranging from the Roman to the early
Islamic. The name of the city originates from the city known in the
Old Testament as Rabbath Ammon, home of the Ammonites.
King David captured the city in the early 10th century BC.
During this battle, David shacked up with and impregnated
Bathsheba, the warrior Uriah’s wife. Subsequently, David
brought Uriah back to the City of David in order to have him lie
(in the biblical sense) with his wife, to explain away the
pregnancy. Uriah, thinking of his fellow warriors who were sleeping
in open fields, refused to live in better conditions than them and
therefore would not enter his house to sleep with his wife. David
then sent him back to Rabbath Ammon, to the hill of the Citadel,
carrying a note to his commander, Joab, which said, “Place
Uriah in the front line of the fiercest battle and withdraw from
him, so that he may be struck down and die.” (2 Samuel
11:15)
In later times, Amman was subsequently ruled by Assyira (8th
century BC), Babylonia (6th century), the Ptolemies, the Seleucids
(3rd century BC), the Romans (1st century) and later by the
Umayyads (7th century).
After entering the complex you will find the temple of Hercules
on your left. Built between 162-166 AD the temple was larger than
any temple in Rome. Continue to the right of the path and you will
see the Umayyad mosque. While much of the facade and the interior
(including the dome) have been restored, you can see the original
parts of the mosque. Walking through the mosque to the other side,
you will come to the Umayyad palace complex. Have fun finding the
cache :) There is a 2 JOD entrance fee (approx. 3 USD) and is open
from 8am to 6pm (Thanks to Strandflieder for the info on the hours
of operation).
