Since I arrived in Amman, Jordan (Philadephia under the Roman Empire)on June 20th, 2007 and this is my first post I have a little to catch up on. With the exception of a visit or two back home to the states, I will be in Jordan for the next year on a Fulbright Student Grant. While my main goal is to studying oral narratives amoung post-nomadic Bedouins living in Wadi Moussa (near Petra) I will be spending the summer in the captial city, Amman studying Arabic at the Qasid Institute (www.qasid.com).The Rough Guide calls Amman a "marked contrast" to its neighbors, "with none of the grand history of Damascus, none of Jerusalem's tension, and just a tiny fraction of Cairo's monuments ... a civilized, genteel place ... with an unexpected charm, not least because it subverts many stereotypes. " When Amman became the capital in the 1920's it was still a small village, but today has grown into a sprawling, industrialized city. I live in a quiet residential neighborhood behind the University of Jordan and have to agree with the Rough Guide, Amman is very civilized and very easy to live with. To this day I am struck by how very little harassment and how much respect I receive. Men stand to vacate their seats to women on the bus (indeed, bus drivers grant women the courtesy of coming to a complete stop before picking them up or dropping them off). My apartment is nicer than any housing I ever inhabited in College and the weather is blissfully cool in comparison to North Africa or the Gulf. For a favorite image of Amman: wherever I walk I am constantly whacked by shrubbery overflowing from neighboring courtyards or planted in the middle of the sidewalk.
City Ruins
Qasid sponsored a city tour for all us students, which I had assumed would show us all the relevant city areas and important landmarks. I was, however, mistaken and we were given, instead, a tour of historical Amman, beginning with the Roman ruins at the center.
The Roman Theatre was built in Philadelphia in the second century A.D. under the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius and is impressively huge and very well restored and cared for. The Rough Guide tells me that it was built to seat an audience of almost six thousand and is still occasionally filled for concerts, a sight I would like to see.
An incredibly concise portrayal of Qasid men
Roman Theatre
The Roman Theatre was built in Philadelphia in the second century A.D. under the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius and is impressively huge and very well restored and cared for. The Rough Guide tells me that it was built to seat an audience of almost six thousand and is still occasionally filled for concerts, a sight I would like to see.
Our group files into the forum in front of the Theatre
An incredibly concise portrayal of Qasid men
The Amphitheatre from the Forum
Entering...
The Stage
The Stairs
Stephanie and her omnipresent computer bag. Other details to note in this picture include the two guys struggling upwards on all fours and Ryan (way in the back) running up in classic jogging position.
Well worth the climb
The Rough Guide tells me that this was an earlier theatre, built to seat about five hundred. We called it the children's theatre, and it was very cute.
Jebel al-Qal'a (Citadel Hill)
After exploring the Theatre we returned to the bus and wound our way up to the hill overlooking the city. Known as Citadel Hill the site contains the ruins of a Roman Temple to Hercules, a massive Umayyad Palace complex, and the National Archaeological Museum.
Temple to Hercules
The Umayyad Palace
The most impressive building by far was the domed entrance hall.
Grrrr... Can't. Get. Picture. Upright.
So An-noy-ing.
Stupid Blog.
At least this one is supposed to have this orientation
Whoot, one that worked!
Pretty cool, huhAjloun
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