The Deputy Mayor of Amman, Engineer Amer Al Basheer, recently sponsored an evening gathering held by Al Ahli Club, entitled “Hikayet Amman” (Amman’s Tale), in commemoration of Amman’s heritage amidst the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) centennial festivities.
The event was chaired by Dr. Lana Mamkegh, and comprised a portrayal of the Ammani tale told by Dr. Hind Abul Sha’ar and Dr. Mohammad Kheir Mamser.
Dr. Abul Sha’ar started her narration by pointing to the discovery of the village of ‘Ein Ghazal which dates back to 7500 B.C. during bulldozer works between Amman and Al Zarqa, in 1974. She stated, “This discovery fills us with a sense of achievement as it represents the first known urban settlement that shows signs of agricultural practices and two-storey houses, in addition to the various gypsum statues and temples that were also unearthed.”
She reiterated that the city of Amman which combines beauty, security, and history passed through two phases: the old, dating to almost 10,000 years old, and the new, with the coming of the Circassians. She also identified the features which distinguish Amman, namely, its strategic location, hilly nature, and continuous water supply (from what was once called Seil Amman).
Dr. Abul Sha’ar explained that the Iron Age marked the beginning of Rabbet ‘Amoun, with Amman changing from an agricultural region into the kingdom of ‘Amoun. Later, Amman developed from the Helenistic Amman that is still evident, to possess the Roman history and attributes that anyone visiting or passing through the old city can see, like the Roman Amphitheater, Sabeel Al Houriyat, and the church in Jabal Al Qala.
“The most important features left by the Romans were the fortified facilities, paved streets, and water towing,” she added.
Abul Sha’ar continued her account of Amman’s history stating that, in 636 B.C., the Arabs came to the region, occupying the City without force, and that the pinnacle of Arab civilization was the Ummayad period. She indicated that Al Rahala Al Maqdesi’s description of Amman was of a rich agricultural area, to which it was hard to travel, and in which people had a tendency to be Shiites. He also found the fruit grown in Amman to be pleasing.
From another angle, Dr. Mohammad Kheir Mamser took the stand, demonstrating the Circassian contribution and their role in building modern-day Jordan, from 1878 until 2009.
Dr. Mamser explained that Circassians played a part in building unified mosques in the regions of Al Shabsogh, Wadi Al Seer, Al Muhajireen, Naour, and Jerash, and in constructing Amman‘s buildings and facilities in Wadi Al Seer, Naour, Al Rsaifeh, and Jerash. They also had their fair share in establishing Al Hijazi railroad.
He also indicated the Circassian role in developing agriculture and livestock, which one traveler described as exceptional in record time of less than 25 years, with regards to planting fruit trees, pines, and oaks.
Within this context, Dr. Mamser explained that Circassians practiced a variety of different careers and crafts, and that they were the ones to establish an irrigation and refining system. They also introduced a grain storage system and a transportation system at a time when traveling was limited to carts, and they produced, during the Emirate of Trans-Jordan era, excavation equipment and supplies, handicrafts engraving, and supplies for food industries and furniture-making.
Dr. Mamser showed attendees a map displaying the names of Circassian families that came to Amman, explaining the role Circassians played in the military field, starting from Merza Pasha, who held the post of Military Advisor to the Founding King, H.M. Abdullah the First. The first three police heads in Amman were also Circassian, as well as top ranking positions.
From her end, Dr. Hind Abul Sha’ar demonstrated that, during the people’s history, Circassians worked together with local police (Al Darak) before the founding of Jordan as a country, and that Circassian women were able to achieve an exceptional presence in 1901.
Dr. Abul Sha’ar thanked GAM for its support of culture and education, and especially in publishing a number of instructive books, like the Amman Legal Register which she urged everyone to read.
On the sidelines of the gathering, the “Amman: Yesterday and Today” photographic exhibition was held, comprising a number of photographs taken by Zuherab, Mohammad Al Fayed, Eng. Wa’el Hijazeen, and Yara D’eibes.
The exhibition included pictures of Circassians, modern-day Amman, GAM’s accomplishments in terms of tunnels and bridges, in addition to heritage homes, and rare pictures of the Roman Amphitheater in 1860, Amman’s old municipal building in 1930, and the Roman Amphitheater and Al Ameeri Divan in 1940.