perched on top of Jabal Al Qal’a, one of the city’s highest hills.
CITADEL OF AMMAN
The Citadel of Amman is a good place to begin a tour of the archaeological sites of the city. It is the site of ancient Rabbath-Ammon and excavations there have revealed numerous Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic remains. Located on a hill, it not only gives visitors a perspective of the city’s incredible history but also provides stunning views of the entire area. Among the most wonderful places you can visit while in Amman, there are some places of specific interest at the Amman Citadel include:
1- The Temple of Hercules, built during the reign of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161–180 AD).
2- The Byzantine Church, believed to date from the 6th or 7th century AD. Corinthian columns mark the site. https://jordan-travel.com/citadel-of-amman/
3-The Umayyad Palace complex, dating from 720–750 AD. The great monumental gateway with its cruciform shape and four vaulted niches leads to a courtyard and colonnaded street, which runs through the complex with ruined buildings on either side. https://jordan-travel.com/citadel-of-amman/
The Temple of HerculesThe Byzantine ChurchThe Umayyad Palace complexOther Highlights
built during the reign of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161–180 AD)
TEMPLE OF HERCULES
Corinthian capitals supporting a dedicatory inscription, according to which the temple was built when Geminius Marcianos was governor of Provincia Arabia (161 -166 AD) in dedication to the co-emperors of Rome, Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus.
161–166 AD
This great temple was dedicated to a supreme Roman deity. It has been attributed to Hercules due to the discovery of gigantic fragments of a marble statue. Hercules was the son of Zeus and a mortal woman (Alcemene) and was known for his supernatural physical strength. Also, Hercules is depicted on Roman coins minted in the city, which was called Philadelphia at the time.
The temple stands within an immense temenos (sacred precinct) that is surrounded by porticos. It was positioned on a large purpose-built stone podium and was meant to be seen from the lower city. It is thought that it was built on top of an earlier temple associated with the Ammonite god Milkom.
According to an inscription that was at the top of its facade, the temple of Hercules was built when Geminius Marcianos was governor of Provincia Arabia in dedication to the co-emperors of Rome, Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus.
believed to date from the 6th or 7th century AD. Corinthian columns mark the site