Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan 4: Amman, Abdullah Mosque, Citadel, Museum, Baptismal Site, Border crossing, HOME

Wednesday December 1, 2010

Happy December!!! Life is flyin’ by way too fast! We started out the day with the King Abdula mosque (which is the king that got assassinated in Jerusalem). This was a very extreme mosque regarding modesty. I had short sleeves a little above my elbow and I got sent to put on these awesome black body dresses that covered our head.

 Citadel and Mosque
1. describe 2 functions of the muqattam hills over time
lime stone quarry. strategic military high point for citadel built by saladin.
2. name the urban centers saladin unified into greater cairo.
Roman-byzantine babylon and early arab fustat.
4. who built the alabaster mosque? for what reason?
muhammad ali, to house his tomb.
5. describe the architecture of the mosque and what it includes
a prayer hall under a massive central dome surrounded by smaller auxiliary domes, a courtyard with an ablution fountain, and pencil minarets. also has a baroque clock tower on the side of the courtyard opposite of the prayer hall. 

When we go to reverent places of other faiths I try to compare the differences of  the LDS church and the one we’re visiting. While we were talking about things we already know I laid on the ground starting to count the 32 pointed star on the ceiling and realized home many differences there are.

-       We were all dressed in black dresses from head to toe. The temple we wear all white.

-       Everyone is allowed to visit these mosques. In the temple it’s sacred because only worthy people can enter it.

-       There are only geometric shapes in all the mosques, with no picures or statues in fear of people worshiping the figures. In the temple we have a massive variety of gorgeous pictures from all stages of life, all adding to the spirit of the temple, but not distracting at all.

-       The colors of mosques are beautiful rich reds and blues depending on the mosque. The temple has such a variety of colors, all so beautiful and mostly muted.

-       Mosques are all one room. There is no progression, and one level. The temple is all about progression! The baptisms for the dead in the bottom floor, and working upward in the building. I don’t know a lot of the details besides those in open houses, but we have the celestial room and creation room amongst others.

-       Mostly these experiences make me so grateful for the variety of beliefs and such a great appreciation for the temple, and that I get to go whenever I want because it’s so close!

            Drove through the beautiful upscale neighborhoods and ending with the American Embassy. It’s so so beautiful! There were TONS of security around, and we weren't allowed to take any pictures for security reasons.

This lead to the Amman Citadel where we saw the temple of Hercules! It probably wasn't THE temple of Hercules, but it was A temple of him. There was a museum that I'm sure was amazing, but I got talking to Heather. It was an absolute blessing sent from Heavenly Father. She changed my view on some things hopefully forever.

Citadel of Amman/Philadelphia

1. Where is Rabbath Beni Ammon located (which plateau?)
1. Jordanian
2. Whom did the OT Ammonites descend from, and whom did they worship?
1. Lot; worshipped Chemosh
3. What was the condition of the Ammonites under King David?
1. A tributary state
4. Describe the actions of King David regarding Uriah the Hittite
1. He sent him to fight Ammonites at the front of the battle so he’d be killed
5. Which of the Dead Sea Scrolls is the Museum at the Amman Citadel?
1. Copper Scroll
6. What did the Greeks name Rabba(t)h Beni Ammon in 200 BC?
1. Philadelphia
7. What did the Arabs call it in 700 AD (Rabba(t)h beni Ammon)
1. Ammon

Philadelphia/Amman Roman Theater

1. Which dynasty renamed Rabbath-Ammon?

the Greeks

1. what did they call it?

Philadelphia

2. What does this name mean?

‘Phila’ means friend and ‘delphia’ means famous oracle of Apollo

2. Rome expanded as Carthage, Greece, and the Near East were conquered.  Which General conquered the Near East?

Pompey

3. What form of government did Rome have until Octavian changed it?

A republic

1. how did it change? now an empire
2. what is Octavian’s throne name? Augustus
1. Which emperor was responsible for most roman building projects in the near east during 117-138 AD?

Hadrian

 Temple of Hercules!

This place was significant because it deals with the Bathsheba story when King David sent her husband Uriah the hittite was here to fight a battle and was killed. We talked about how this was one of the worst things done in the old testament. This story is so so sad.

Bethabara/Jesus’ Baptismal Site

1. What does Bethabara mean?

beth- house.

bara-to cross/ford

2. How are the ruins from first century churches and second century fonts significant in terms of Jesus’ baptism?

baptismal fonts go back to 2nd and 1st century

Below is an original place where baptisms occurred, but the river is drying up in this area so they had to relocate the baptismal area.

 Next we went to a more likely place that Christ would have been baptized. It was the border of Israel and Jordan. On our side we had Jordanian men with machine guns and directly across about 20 feet were Israeli soldiers with their machine guns. A river 10 feet wide was separating the two. This was really, really cool.

We hopped on the bus to some makeshift KFC and headed across the border! This time it was super fast and felt so good to be on home ground. It's amazing the feeling of the Jerusalem center being home. I missed this place. It's all decorated with the magic of Christmas. I don't want to come home in 15 days, yet. We watched "The Last Song" and it was a rough one for me to get through. I haven't watched a chick flick for so so long and I kept laughing at all the cliches and ridiculous cheesiness of it. I love to overlook the city at night and call it home. I love Jerusalem.