# Philadelphia (Amman)

Philadelphia (Ancient Greek: Φιλαδέλφεια) was a historical city located in the southern Levant that was part of the Greek, Roman, and Byzantine empires between the third century BC and the seventh century AD, when its ancient name was restored to Amman during the Islamic era. The city was initially centered on the Citadel Hill and had later spread to the nearby valley in which a stream flowed.
In the 3rd century BC, the ancient city of Rabbath Ammon was occupied by Ptolemy II, the Macedonian ruler of Egypt, who rebuilt and named it Philadelphia to honor his nickname. After the Roman conquest in 63 BC, Philadelphia became a prominent member of the Decapolis, a regional league of ten cities. It experienced significant growth in the 2nd century AD, with numerous structures being constructed, including a theater, nymphaeum and a temple.
Philadelphia became part of the Byzantine Empire in the early 4th century, and was home to several bishops and churches. The city was soon damaged by the 363 Galilee earthquake. In the 630s, the Rashidun Caliphate conquered the Levant, restoring Philadelphia's ancient Semitic name to Amman, and beginning the Islamic era. The city became part of the district of Jund Dimashq and an important stop on the way to the Islamic holy cities of the Hejaz. Christians continued to practice their faith, referring to the city as Philadelphia until at least the 8th century.

## Etymology

Ammon was occupied by Ptolemy II who renamed it to honor his own nickname Philadelphus. He had acquired this nickname after having married his older sister Arsinoe II around 273/2 BC. As a result, both were given the epithet "Philadelphoi" (Koinē Greek: Φιλάδελφοι "Sibling-lovers"). While sibling-marriage conformed to the traditional practice of the Egyptian pharaohs, it was shocking to the Greeks, who considered it incestuous. Sotades, a poet who mocked the marriage, was exiled and assassinated. The marriage may not have been consummated, since it produced no children.

## History

The city has evidence of human habitation since the 8th millennium BC, with traces found on Citadel Hill and in the adjacent valley, where a stream once flowed near the Neolithic village of Ayn Ghazal. In the first millennium BC, the city was called Rabbat Ammon and served as the capital of a small state. This Ammonite kingdom had maintained independence by allying with neighboring Levantine cities against Assyrian advances. The city was eventually conquered by the Assyrians in the 8th century BC, followed by the Babylonians and the Achaemenid Persians by the 5th century BC.

### Founding of Philadelphia by the Greeks

The conquest of the Near East by Alexander the Great in 332 BC introduced Hellenistic culture into the region. The Greeks founded new cities in the area of modern-day Jordan, including Gadara (Umm Qays), (Gerasa) Jerash and Philadelphia (Amman). Ptolemy II Philadelphus, the Macedonian ruler of Egypt, occupied and rebuilt the city of Rabbath Ammon, naming it Philadelphia (Ancient Greek: Φιλαδέλφεια) as an adulation to his own nickname, evoking "brotherly love" in Greek. The initial Greek presence in Amman was centered on the Citadel Hill, and had later spread into the Amman valley.

### Flourishing under Roman rule and the Decapolis

The Romans under Pompei conquered much of the Levant in 63 BC, inaugurating a period of Roman rule that lasted for four centuries. In the northern modern-day Jordan, the Greek cities of Philadelphia (Amman), Gerasa, Gedara, Pella and Arbila joined with other cities in Palestine and Syria; Scythopolis, Hippos, Capitolias, Canatha and Damascus to form the Decapolis League, a confederation linked by bonds of economic and cultural interest. Philadelphia became a point along a road stretching from Ailah to Damascus that was built by Emperor Trajan in AD 106. This provided an economic boost for the city in a short period of time.
Beginning in the first century AD, Roman cities between Damascus and Philadelphia formed a ten-city league called the Decapolis, which expanded to 18 by the second century. Owing to the expansion, the list of cities that constituted as members of the league is contested, but Philadelphia is certain to have been one.
In the Roman era, the northern bank of the Seil in the Amman valley contained a colonnaded street, an east–west road known as Decumanus, that no longer exists, while the southern bank contained a forum, a Theater, an Odeon Theater, a Nymphaeum, and baths. This lower part of the city in the valley was connected through a stairs to the upper part at the Citadel Hill. The hill was built as an Acropolis, and contains a a temple dedicated to Hercules.
Rainwater rushing from the surrounding hills into the valley led to flooding, leading the Romans to construct a series of vaults and arches as well as a network of underground channels to control the flow of the Seil. Several of these constructions were damaged in the past century.
* A large 6,000 seat Roman Theater
* A small 500 seat Odeon Theater
* Nymphaeum fountain and baths

### Beginning of Byzantine rule

When Philadelphia became part of the Byzantine Empire, it was home to several bishops and churches.

### Islamic era and renaming to Amman

In the 630s, the Rashidun Caliphate conquered the Levant from the Byzantines, beginning the Islamic era in the region. Muslims restored the city's ancient name by renaming it Amman, which became part of the district of Jund Dimashq. With the Umayyad Caliphate establishing itself with Damascus as its capital in 661, Amman became an important stop on the way south to the Islamic holy cities of the Hejaz. The transition of power to Muslim rule was peaceful and Christians continued to practice their faith and pave churches with mosaics, including the floor mosaics of the St. Stephen's Church at Umm ar-Rasas south of Amman, made during the Abbasid Caliphate in the 8th century.