New Britain herald., 1923-06-26
KERAK'S CAPITAL
 WAS PHILADELPHIA
Grtat-Great. reat.Grandlalher of
 United States Phillies

Washington, D, C.. June ss,- 'Nhether the newest Arab state ta have it's independence recognized be called by its western title or Trans leEaaAia or by its eastern name, kerak, it seems hapelessly cut oi touch with things American" says . bulletin from the Washington, n C., headquarters of the National Geo. graphic society, in regard 10 the land immediately east of the River Jordan over which Emir Ahdulla rules,
 Perhaps il will bring the newly independent hut very old country closer" continues the bulletin, 'te realize that its capital, now Amman, was once Philadelphia - the great, great'great-granifather of the half dozen or more Fhiladelphias, gTfat and small, that are 10 he found in our postal guides,
 Ancestor Of Modern Phiiallelphias
 But it was only mere matter of 20 odd centuries ago that the city took the name Philadelphia from it's new lord. Ptalemy Fhiladelphus. II had existed as Rahbath Amman. chief seity of the Ammonites. almost from the days of Lot. from whom the Am- monltes are said to have sprung, lt was after il victorious battle with these same people of Amman that Jephthah, according to the Biblical story, returned to the fatal meeting with his daughter.
 When Transiordania is described as stretching from the Jordan and the a.A he tsatn al af Arabia one is likely 10 call up ihe picture Of a hopeless desert. Hut much Of the region Is steppe land, a high plain supporting some focks and even capable Of tillage. Nomadsm has long held the region in it's grip. however, and 1t is as n sort of chief Of nomads' that Abdulah Ibn Hussein finds it necessary to rule. He holds his court not in a palace but in q group of tents which he moves with the seasons.
 Was Center of Greek and Roman
 Culture
 "This land, now given over largely | to nomnds is capable of development | along stable lines as is shown by it's importance. After Alexander's east |
  the Jordan became Hellenized and the | seats of prosperity and cutu"". In the second century befc"" Christ. Ptolemy Philadelphus built in the city which was given his name an exten- sive acropolis which In the Amman of today is only mass of fallen columns and ruined walls.
 "Rome's sway over Philadelphia is shown In Amman by the ruins of a hugo amphitheater which seated 7N00 spectators. In the sleepy eastern town of today goats browse among the foundations of temples and public buildings, Arabian coffee shops lean against once proud walls, and the eastern species of the village lounger sits on overturned marble pillars. Emir Abdullah is showing some inter- est in the ancient structures of his capital, however. and is having the fairly well preserved ampitheater cleared of debris.
 Amman is not accessible. Five hours by automobile over reasonably good roads through the sizzling valley 1 of the Jordan suffice for the trip ( rom Jerusalem to the capital. The ' Jordan forms the boundary line and l across it is an iron bridge. Amman { s only about 30 miles from the river, z md as the crow flies is hardly more $ han 60 miles from Jerusalem. The I iedjaz railway, connecting Damascus c Ind Medina, runs through the town"