Carved into the hillside of the country’s capital, Amman’s Roman Amphitheatre is the city’s most iconic landmark and a spectacular piece of ancient ruin that still puts its visitors in awe even after centuries of wear. It stays as a significant piece of Jordan’s history when the country was once known as Philadelphia under the Roman rule.

Sitting on a calculated angle facing north to protect the audience’s eyes from the sun’s rays, the Roman Amphitheatre held performances that ranged from heavenly singing to gruesome public executions. That said, its size construction and aspect as a piece of archaeology is a delight to experience as travelers.

Here’s what you can see at the Amman Roman Amphitheatre today. The bits and pieces that survived and witnessed ever changing seasons, wars and even natural disasters.

Stay at the best hotels in Amman and book your private transfers from the Amman airport directly to your hotel.

A Brief History of the Roman Amphitheatre

The amphitheater dates back to the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius (138–161 AD), when Philadelphia was a thriving city of the Decapolis—ten cities that represented Rome’s presence in the region.

Built on the northern slope of a hill, the theatre could seat around 6,000 spectators, making it the largest in Jordan. Engineers positioned it carefully so that it faced north, shielding audiences from the harsh sun. This practical Roman design reveals how advanced their urban planning was, blending function with grandeur.

It was built on three tiers: the rulers, of course, sat closest to the action, the military secured the middle section, and the general public perched and squinted from the top rows.

Theatres often had religious significance, and the small shrine above the top row of seats once housed a statue of the goddess Athena (now in the Jordan Museum), who was prominent in the religious life of the city.

Roman Structures at the Site

Sculptures once lined the niches of the scaenae frons (stage backdrop) and adorned the entrances. Archaeologists uncovered fragments of statues during excavations, and some now sit in Jordan’s national museum.

While not all remain in their original places, evidence of these statues gives us a glimpse of how the Amman amphitheater was once a gallery of Roman art, mixing performance with visual spectacle. These statues carried political and cultural symbolism, often depicting gods, emperors, and local benefactors who sponsored the theatre. Among these, you will find:

Statue of Athena – a headless statue of the Roman god Athena who was also the religious deity of Philadelphia.

Roman soldier – a headless statue of a roman soldier. This soldier could have been someone significant enough to have their statue built and kept at the theatre. While not much detail is known, the statue gives a window of knowledge to the attire roman soldiers once wore.

A small throne-like chair – Among the stairways of the amphitheatre sits a disfigured throne-like chair, standing out in contrast to the rest of the seats. This chair can be found amongst the first couple of steps showcasing that someone important (likely a ruler or noble) sat on it, amongst the VIP guests, for a better view of the stage.

Ancient Greek inscription – a tablet with an ancient Greek inscription honors the deceased daughter of Herennius Moschos, a centurion of the Legio X Fretensis Severian.

The Bathtub and Gladiators’ Rooms

Not all features of the Roman amphitheatre are obvious at first glance. Among the most intriguing finds is a Roman bathtub, discovered in the chambers beneath the seating. This small but fascinating detail suggests the theatre had facilities for performers or perhaps even gladiators who fought here.

Unfortunately, no barriers protect this piece of history, leaving it vulnerable to damage from both tourists and locals.

Amongst the numerous more underlying things found at the Roman Amphitheatre are possibly the rooms that now houses the Jordan folklore museum. Gladiators and performers likely used the lower chambers and side rooms as holding areas. These rooms may once have served as chambers for various purposes, from bathing areas to living quarters for gladiators.

You can still see the reminiscent of these chambers, although now filled with museum items, and the walkway where the gladiators and performers once entered the stage.

Jordan Folklore Museum inside the Roman Theatre

The seats and stage are not the only thing you can see at the Amman Roman amphitheatre. Towards each side of the place, you will find a small but an interesting museum- The Jordan Museum of Popular Traditions and the Jordon Folklore Museum.

The Jordan Museum showcases traditional artifacts of Jordan history

In 1975, officials established the Folklore Museum to record Amman’s history, from its Bedouin and desert cultures to later developments. The museum displays life-like statues, real weapons, and everyday items that depict the lives of these people.

Visiting the Roman Amphitheatre Amman Today

You’ll find the Roman amphitheatre in Amman Jordan right in the heart of downtown, making it one of the city’s easiest attractions to reach. The ticket office sells inexpensive entry passes that also cover the Folklore Museum and the Museum of Popular Traditions inside the theatre.

Plan your visit for early morning or late afternoon to enjoy softer light and cooler weather. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) bring the most pleasant temperatures for climbing the steps and exploring the site. If you want to avoid crowds, choose a weekday over the busier weekends.

Guided tours are highly recommended if you want to catch the smaller details—like the inscriptions, the VIP thrones, and the hidden gladiator chambers—that you might otherwise overlook. You can easily book a guided tour of the Roman Theatre and the rest of the iconic sites in Amman here that also takes you to other must visit places like the Amman Citadel, which saves you time and ensures you don’t miss the stories carved into this monument.