pella
Discover the Scope of Jordanian History at Pella
Pella is the place to put on your archaeology hat. There may be no triumphant temple remains or grand Roman roads here, but if you like history, Pella is one of Jordan’s most important archaeological sites. Excavations here reveal a staggering 6,000 years of continuous settlement from the Neolithic age right up to the 14th century.
The scattering of ruins strewn across the hilltop includes a Canaanite temple, Umayyad residential houses, and a Byzantine church (built over an earlier Roman structure) which are fun to poke around in. The real joy of a visit here, though, is the lonely, windswept setting amid the hills, where you’ll rarely encounter another visitor except maybe a shepherd grazing his sheep.
Pella quickly became one of the cities of the Decapolis, the collection of Roman trade towns connected by paved roads which included Philadelphia (Amman), Gadara (Umm Qais), and Gerasa (Jerash). This confederation of towns lasted until the Abbasids moved the center of the Muslim world to Baghdad.
The economy picked up in Pella again during the Byzantine era and by the end of the 5th century AD, Pella’s population stood at about 25,000 people. Muslim armies defeated the Byzantine at the battle of Yarmouk in 636 AD, and Pella’s name was changed to Fahl. Fahl prospered under the Ummayad rule, although the trade routes changed and the town became more agriculturally dependent.
In 747 AD, the city suffered an earthquake and many of the buildings crashed to the ground. Fahl never truly recovered, although the city remained inhabited, and went under Mamluk rule in the 13th and 14th centuries. Once the Mamluks left, however, the city was deserted.
Much of Pella is still in the process of being excavated. Based on designs of some coins struck at Pella, there may be some beautiful buildings still to be discovered, as well as more mosaics. While many civilizations have flourished, it is instructive to note how little bloodshed there was over the years. Maybe the peace and serenity evident at the site now is a part of its inherent character. Whatever the reason, Pella is a wonderful place to explore and reflect.
(The Decapolis – Ten Cities are: Gerasa “Jerash today” in Jordan, Scythopolis (Beth-Shean) in Palestine, Hippos “Hippus or Sussita” in Palestine, Gadara “Umm Qais” in Jordan, Pella in Jordan, Philadelphia or “Amman” in Jordan, Capitolias (Beit Ras ) in Jordan, Canatha or “Qanawat” in Syria, Raphana in Jordan, Damascus – Capital of Syria ).
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