The Atlas Obscura Guide To

Jordan

10 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Jordan

Unusual
Attractions
in Jordan

Photo Courtesy the Long Now Foundation

Petra

An ancient capital city 3000 years old and harboring many surprises.

30.3285, 35.4427

Added by LongNow

Little Petra, Jordan.

Petra District, Jordan

Little Petra

A more chill but no less fascinating version of the famous ancient archeological site.

30.3741, 35.4497

Added by Arthnold Manacatsirman

These fingers obviously belong to Hercules

Hand of Hercules

The most gigantic, swoony, intimidating trio of fingers in all of antiquity.

31.9547, 35.9343

Added by littlebrumble

The Oval Forum in Jerash, and the Cardo Maximus

The Ruins of Jerash

Gladiators battle and chariots race daily in the ruins of a once-great Roman city.

32.2769, 35.9056

Added by Annetta Black

Madaba Mosaic Map

Madaba Mosaic Map

The world's oldest map of the holy land gives us a fragmented glimpse of the layout of biblical nations.

31.7177, 35.7941

Added by Liza B

Qasr Amra

Qasr Amra

A bathhouse from the second Islamic Caliphate decorated with frescoes of constellations, pleasure gardens, and naked ladies.

31.8019, 36.5862

Added by ahvenas

Damiya Dolmen Field

Damiya Dolmen Field

This ancient stone necropolis is in danger of disappearing.

32.0971, 35.5691

Added by EricGrundhauser

Sitting room of the Duke's Diwan

The Duke's Diwan

One man's labor of love, Amman's oldest home has become a timecapsule with its doors permanently open to artists and guests.

31.9519, 35.9334

Added by littlebrumble

See All 10 Things to Do in Jordan See All 10 Places

Atlas Obscura Trips

Jordan’s Ancient Ruins, Desert Landscapes, and Starry Skies

May 3—May 15, 2019

Explore Jordan's long-abandoned desert fortresses, spectacular mosques, Biblical landmarks, and Roman ruins, and travel across its magnificent orange desert by camel and jeep to sleep under starry skies.

Explore Jordan

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Stories
About Jordan

The Scanning Electron Microscope photograph of bread found at Shubayqa 1.

Found: 14,400-Year-Old Flatbread Remains That Predate Agriculture

The burned crumbs shed light on prehistoric hunter-gatherers’ diets.

Hamzeh AlMaaytah in his bookstore's storage room.

A Jordan Bookseller's 24-Hour 'Emergency Room for the Mind'

At his bookstore in Amman, Hamzeh AlMaaytah administers life-affirming literature.

by Shira Telushkin

Lists Featuring
Jordan

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