The Amman Roman Theater is probably the great symbol of the Jordanian capital, as it is a monument of enormous historical value and evocative beauty. In this post we tell you everything you need to know about it, especially if you intend to visit it during your stay in this city.
Amman Roman Theater: a Bit of History
As its name suggests, the Amman Roman Theater was built during the period of Roman domination of the city, when it was not called that but Philadelphia, and was part of the Decapolis, a group of 10 cities located in what was then the eastern end of the empire.
It was probably erected in the times of Emperor Antoninus Pius, that is, in the mid-second century AD, becoming since then the most important venue in the city for the celebration of plays and other cultural events. It is believed that its capacity was about 6,000 spectators.
The interesting thing about this Roman theater is that it is located in the heart of the city. And, in fact, its surroundings are considered the symbolic heart of Amman: it opens to
Interesting Facts about the Theater
The Amman Roman Theater underwent a major restoration in the mid-twentieth century, reconstructing or replacing the most deteriorated parts of the structure. That is why, with a little observation, you can distinguish between the truly original ashlars and those added a few decades ago. In any case, this does not detract from the value or interest of the theater, which stands out as one of the best preserved in the entire Middle East.
The stands were divided into three levels: the one closest to the stage (proscaenium) was occupied by the ruling classes, the intermediate level by the military and other equivalent positions and, finally, the highest one for the population in general. Precisely at the top of the stands was also located a famous statue of Athena, goddess of great devotion in Philadelphia. Today it is exhibited in the Jordan Museum, along with other sculptures from the Roman period of this city and other nearby ones such as Gerasa (Jerash).
The theater is still used today for dramatic works and other shows, so we recommend asking at the tourist office in case any of them coincide with the days of your stay in the city.
Practical information for the visit
If you want to visit the Amman Roman Theater you should take into account the following:
- Opening hours: open every day, with the following hours
- Winter (from November to March): 8:00-16:00
- April and May: 8:00-17:30
- Summer (from June to September): 8:00-18:30
- Ramadan: 8:00-17:00
- Price: 2 JOD, but admission is included in the Jordan Pass, so foreign tourists will not need to pay any amount
Other Places to Visit Next to the Theater
As we develop in another post on this blog, the Amman Roman Theater is not the only vestige that remains of ancient Philadelphia. On the contrary: in the vicinity of the theater are preserved other places of enormous interest, either for their archaeological value or for hosting museums for different profiles.
Among these places is the odeon, which at the time must have been a small covered theater for shows in which better acoustics were required. Another nearby and important space is the nymphaeum, a kind of monument dedicated to the nymphs and, therefore, decorated with a large fountain. In addition, without moving from the Hachemita Square you can visit both the Folklore Museum and the Museum of Popular Traditions.
