Um El-Jimal - Black Gem of the Desert 

One Of the Decapolis Cities, on the edge of the stark, black basalt region of northeast of Jordan, Um El Jimal is one of the area ’s most impressive and eerie monuments of ancient civilizations. The town is filled with the remains of many black basalt stone houses, churches, a Roman barracks and a fort complex. Also it called by “Black Gem of the Desert .

Umm el-Jimal (Arabic: ام الجمال, "Mother of Camels"), also known as Umm al-Jimal or Umm idj-Djimal, is a village in Northern Jordan approximately 17 kilometers east of Mafraq. It is primarily notable for the substantial ruins of a Byzantine and early Islamic town which are clearly visible above the ground, as well as an older Roman village (locally referred to as al-Herri) located to the southwest of the Byzantine ruins.

Jerash (Gerasa): The Jewel of the north.

The Jewel of the north. One of the most visited site. Jerash is one of the preserved Greco-Roman cities in the world, and example of the Roman civilization. Jerash was called Gerasa in the bible It is mentioned that it was built by the soldiers of Alexander the Great the city features theaters, churches, temples (Zeus & Artemis), a Nymphaeum, and colonnaded streets. Some of the pagan temples were turned into churches with mosaic floors in the year 396.3

Jerash, the Gerasa of Antiquity, is the capital and largest city of Jerash Governorate (محافظة جرش), which is situated in the north of Jordan, 48 kilometres (30 mi) north of the capital Amman towards Syria. Jerash Governorate's geographical features vary from cold mountains to fertile valleys from 250 to 300 metres (820 to 980 ft) above sea level, suitable for growing a wide variety of crops.

A strong earthquake in 749 AD destroyed large parts of Jerash, while subsequent earthquakes along with the wars and turmoil contributed to additional destruction. Its destruction and ruins remained buried in the soil for hundreds of years until they were discovered by German Orientalist Ulrich Jasper Seetzen in 1806[2] to begin excavation and to return life to rise to the current Jerash by inhabitants of old villages. Then followed 70 years after by the community of Muslims, Circassians, who emigrated to Jordan from the land of the Caucasus in 1878 after the Ottoman-Russian war. And a large community of people of Syria at the beginning of the 20th century.

The hippodrome

The South Gate

Northern Tetrapylon

Mosaic at the Christian Church

Amman

Jordan's modern capital, Amman is steeped in biblical history known as the capital of the Ammonites as Rabbath Ammon, and as Philadelphia in the Roman rule, it became the southern Greco-Roman city of the Decapolis. A Roman amphitheater with capacity of 8000 spectator's .The citadel which still standing with its columns & numerous Roman-Byzantine & Islamic remains. Excavations showed that Amman goes back 9,000 years from Neolithic - Roman- Greco - Byzantine to Islamic .Remains of churches & Umayyad Palace, The Archaeological museum with some of Dead Sea scrolls & Islamic treasures and the Popular Traditions museum.

Ajloun, Jordan

73 km north of Amman, and a short journey northwest from Jerash, through a beautiful pine-forest and olive groves, brings you to the town of Ajloun, where Hadrian stayed over the winter of 129-30 AD, and built himself an arch well outside the town, leaving unbonded its sides for future city walls to come out to meet it.

Here you will find the Castle of Ajloun or Qalaat Errabadh (Arabic for "Hilltop Castle"), from which there is a splendid view westwards into the Jordan Valley. It looks like a Crusader fortress, but it was built by Muslims in 1184-85 as a military fort and buffer to protect the region from invading Crusader forces. It was built on the orders of the local governor, Ezz Eddin Osama bin Munqethe, a nephew of the Ayyubid leader Salahuddin Al-Ayyoubi (Saladin), as a direct retort to the new Latin castle of Belvoir (Kawkab El-Hawa) on the opposite side of the valley between the Tiberias and Besan, and as a base to develop and control the iron mines of Ajloun.

This superb example of Arab and Islamic architecture was built as a rectangle with four square towers and an entrance on the south side dominating a wide stretch of the north Jordan Valley and passages to it. From its hilltop position, the Castle of Ajloun protected the communication routes between south Jordan and Syria, and was one of a chain of forts, which lit beacons at night to pass signals from the Euphrates as far as Cairo.

Two years after it was completed the fortress's original purpose had already been outlived, for Salahuddin defeated the Crusaders at the battle of the Horns of Hattin in 1189, which marked the beginning of the end of their occupation of the Holy Land.

In 1214-15 the Castle of Ajloun was enlarged by Aybak bin Abdullah, majordomo of the Caliph Al-Muazham Isa; in 1260 it fell to the Mongols, but was later rebuilt by the Egyptian Mamluks. No longer needed for military purposes, it was used as an administrative center responsible to Damascus.

Some of the stones with which the castle was built have crosses carved into them, giving credence to a tradition, recounted by a 13th century Arab historian that: "an ancient monastery once stood on the site, inhabited by a Christian named Ajloun; when the monastery fell into ruin, the castle took its place and the name of the monk".

The castle today is beautifully preserved and is a popular attraction for foreigners & Jordanians alike. The structures, towers, chambers, galleries and staircases that form part of the town as well as the beautiful scenery that surrounds the hills nearby will captivate you.

Jordan Map & Sites

A host of prophets graced Jordan by living in or traveling through Jordan, these include Nuh (Noah), Lut (Lot), El-Khedr (St. George), Ibrahim (Abraham), Ilyas (Elijah), Hud, Shu'ayb (Jethro), Yosha' (Joshua) his tomb near Salt, Musa (Moses) the site of his death on Mount Nebo, Harun (Aaron) his tomb in Petra, Dawud (David) his Shrine in Mazar Al-Shamali near Kerak, Sulayman (Solomon), Ayyub (Job), Yahya (John), Eesa (Jesus), and prophet Mohammad, Peace and blessing be upon them All.Jordan Map & Sites

A host of prophets graced Jordan by living in or traveling through Jordan, these include Nuh (Noah), Lut (Lot), El-Khedr (St. George), Ibrahim (Abraham), Ilyas (Elijah), Hud, Shu'ayb (Jethro), Yosha' (Joshua) his tomb near Salt, Musa (Moses) the site of his death on Mount Nebo, Harun (Aaron) his tomb in Petra, Dawud (David) his Shrine in Mazar Al-Shamali near Kerak, Sulayman (Solomon), Ayyub (Job), Yahya (John), Eesa (Jesus), and prophet Mohammad, Peace and blessing be upon them All.

Interactive Map of Jordan

It’s been fourteen years since the passing of his late Majesty King Hussein of Jordan, and during these 14 years, there isn’t a day that goes buy where a Jordanian does not remember a great King, a father, a leader, and an inspirational world icon of peace. Today is a day where everyone remembers the late King. Today, the 14th of November would have marked the 77th birthday of his late majesty, and yet once cannot help but remember and pray.

The photo above dates back to August 11th, 1952, His Majesty King Hussein, accompanied by Jordanian Prime Minister Tawfiq Abul Huda, in the procession for the Accession to the Throne ceremony.

This beautiful smile can warm up the coldest and rainiest Jordanian winter day.

 His Majesty delivering a speech from a car megaphone to crowds in Mafraq, Jordan, July, 1974.

Remember this beautiful photo of his Majesty? This timeless picture dates back to 1978 and was taken by Zohrab at the time.

The black and white photo above may not ring a bell to many people, but it shows how compassionate His late Majesty was. He remembered people, you didn’t have to be royalty to be remembered, loved, or check upon. You just had to have a distant memory with his Majesty and he would sure remember you. The photo was when King Hussein returns to visit his old school, Victoria College. He was happy to see that the school doorman was in good health and still working at his old job. This was taken in Alexandria, Egypt, September, 1988.

Look at the beauty in the photo of the above. King Hussein listens to a Bedouin woman with a smile, open arms, and welcoming gestures. Show me a world leader who is willing to take so much time out of their precious life to listen to those who are truly in need.

Photo by Zohrab.

A beautiful and touching photo. King Hussein places a tender kiss atop a young orphan’s forehead. He was a great father to all of us.  

I am not sure of the date of this photo, I just love the angle of the shot, the Jordanian flags fluttering in the near background, the military uniforms, and most of all, His Majesty in official uniform while he reviews a guard of honor before addressing Parliament.

Photo By Allan

A great leader can do wonders. The photo above also by Allan, was taken back in 1997, when King Hussein was visiting Salt during a pre-election tour of the country to encourage Jordanians to vote.

His Late Majesty King Hussein of Jordan with His Majesty king Abduallah of Jordan.

Take the time to remember King Hussein every day, below is a video that breaks my heart, yet is worth sharing. The funeral of his Late Majesty on the 7th of Feb 1999.  A day where the skies broke down into tears of rain mourning his Majesty, a day where most Jordanians where either out on the streets waving their goodbyes, or glued behind their TV screens crying their eyes out.

Allah Yerhamak! You are missed every single day .