Roman Theater & Downtown

The Roman Theater

Amman's most imposing ancient structure: The Roman Theater was built in the 2nd century AD (138–161) under Emperor Antoninus Pius and seats 6,000 spectators on 33 rows. It is built into the north slope of Jebel al-Jofeh and is remarkably well preserved—the acoustics are still perfect: a whisper on stage can be heard in the top row.

In the cavea (the seating area), there are two small museums: the Folklore Museum (traditional clothing, Bedouin tents, everyday objects) and the Museum of Popular Traditions (jewelry, mosaics, traditional crafts). Both are included in the admission.

Opposite the theater lies the Nymphaeum, a partially excavated Roman fountain from the 2nd century, and the Hashemite Plaza, a well-maintained square that serves as a starting point for Downtown walks.