Philadelphia (Amman)

Philadelphia

Φιλαδέλφεια (Ancient Greek)
Map of Philadelphia showing Roman and Byzantine ruins and the Seil and Citadel Hill
Shown within Jordan
Location	Amman, Jordan
Coordinates	31°57′9″N 35°56′24″E / 31.95250°N 35.94000°E / 31.95250; 35.94000
Part of	Ptolemaic Kingdom Seleucid Empire Nabataean Kingdom Decapolis Roman Empire Byzantine Empire
History
Builder	Ptolemy II Philadelphus
Founded	Around 255 BC
Periods	Classical antiquity to late antiquity
Cultures	Ammonite Nabataean Greek Latin Byzantine

Philadelphia (Ancient Greek: Φιλαδέλφεια) was a historical city located in the southern Levant, which was part of the Greek, Nabataean, Roman, and Byzantine realms between the third century BC and the seventh century AD. With the start of the Islamic era, the city regained its ancient name of Amman, eventually becoming the capital of Jordan. Philadelphia was initially centered on the Citadel Hill, later spreading to the nearby valley, where a stream flowed.

Around 255 BC, Rabbath Amman was seized by Ptolemy II, the Macedonian Greek ruler of Egypt, who rebuilt and renamed it Philadelphia in honor of his nickname–a name change which contemporary sources mostly ignored. The city's significance grew as it became a frontier in the Syrian Wars, frequently changing hands between the Ptolemaic and the Seleucid empires. By the early second century BC, Philadelphia became part of the Nabataean Kingdom, with a large Arab Nabataean community residing in the city before and after the kingdom's rule.

Philadelphia was conquered by the Romans under Pompey in 63 BC, becoming a polis complete with civic institutions and minting rights, and being incorporated into the Decapolis, a regional league of cities. In 106 AD, Philadelphia was incorporated into the Roman province of Arabia Petraea, and became an important stop along the Via Traiana Nova road. The city flourished in the second century, being constructed in the classical Roman style with a theater, nymphaeum, a temple, and a network of colonnaded streets.

The city came under the control of the Byzantine Empire in the fourth century, and several churches were built in it. Philadelphia was soon damaged by the 363 Galilee earthquake. In the 630s, the Rashidun Caliphate conquered the Levant, and restored Philadelphia's ancient Semitic name of Amman, marking the beginning of the Islamic era. Christians in the region continued to practice their faith, referring to the city as Philadelphia until at least the 8th century.