Umm el-Jimal, Governorate De Mafraq, Jordan
The extensive black basalt city of Umm el-Jimal, anciently called “Black Gem of the Desert”, lies like a dark encrustation on the flat desert of northern Jordan. So many of the buildings still stand to two, or even three, storeys that it seems as if its abandonment must have been within living memory – in fact it has been deserted for about 1200 years.
The ruins here reveals a wide range of structures typical of a modest provincial town that lacked a formal urban plan unlike the monumental splendor, architectural extravaganza, and imperial scale of towns such as Gerasa, Gadara and Philadelphia.
Umm el-Jimal, which means “The Mother of” either “Camels” or “Beauties” in Arabic, is one of the most truly impressive and unique monuments of ancient civilizations.
Epic Jordan Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
Own or work here?