Pella, Jordan

Pella, Arabic Tabaqat Fahl طبقة فحل, Tabaqat Fahl DMG, is a village of ancient ruins in northwestern Jordan. Pella is located in the Jordan Valley, about 85 kilometers north of Amman and is about a half -hour drive from the city of Irbid nordjordanischen away.

History

Since the Neolithic period the local situation has been inhabited continuously. This was in the water constantly leading source in Wadi Jirm that ensured a reliable water supply. From the Middle and Late Bronze Age temple have been preserved, as well a from the Iron Age. For the first time in the 19th century BC, mentioned in Egyptian inscriptions as, Pihilum 'or' Pehel ', the local name was Hellenized later to Pella, probably in honor of Pella in Macedonia, birthplace of Alexander the Great.

In the Hellenistic city was followed by the Roman, of the few impressive ruins are preserved. During this period, Pella belonged to the Decapolis, a group of ten cities in Palestine, which were centers of Greco-Roman culture. It was probably a refuge for Christians from the Jerusalem community and owns one of the oldest churches in Christendom. From the Byzantine settlement phase three large basilicas are obtained.

After the Arab conquest of Pella was about a hundred years an Umayyad city until it was destroyed by an earthquake in 747. Then Pella existed only as a small village until today.