Hercules hand at Amman Citadel in Jordan : NPR
Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR’s international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.
It was a quiet day in the Jordanian capital, Amman. The city had just endured nearly two weeks of frequent civil defense sirens, warning of missiles crossing Jordanian airspace during the Israel-Iran war in June.
Since a ceasefire was in effect, I took a break from my job coordinating coverage of the Middle East to go visit some local sights. My colleague, correspondent Jane Arraf, suggested some highlights to visit, and I chose the closest: the Amman Citadel.
I never imagined what a sacred historical place it would be.
Located at the top of one of the seven hills overlooking the city, the site is like an archaeological mosaic where fragments of paganism, Christianity and Islam from different eras and empires coexist. And I had the place almost to myself, except for the staff and a few other visitors wandering quietly around the grounds.
One of the most amazing exhibits is this colossal hand sitting next to the ruins of an ancient Roman temple, which dates back to the second century. Researchers believe the hand belonged to a massive statue of Hercules. Nearby are the remains of a Byzantine church and an Umayyad palace. As you travel through these sacred places, each monument contains its unique architecture and symbolism, each bringing its own meaning to the mosaic.
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