Land of promise

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Jordan attracts tourists from all over the world eager to explore its astonishing sights, and relax in the kingdom’s luxurious resorts.

Blessed with astonishing natural beauty and a growing economy, Jordan is a haven for tourists and migrants alike.

One of the impressive aspects of Jordan - and there are many - is the sheer diversity of visitors it attracts. History, religion, adventure, relaxation, business and politics are all reasons for a wide array of foreigners passing through this small but incredibly distinct land.

Religious tourism abounds in Biblical locations such as Mount Nebo (where Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land) and Bethany-Beyond-The-Jordan, where Jesus was baptised by John, thus laying the foundations of the early Christian faith.

The Dead Sea - the largest natural spa known to man - is visited by people of all faiths and those who seek pleasures of a more physical nature. Covering oneself in Dead Sea mud works wonders for all types of skin, whether it is to cure dermatological problems, or to acquire baby-softness. Meanwhile, reading a newspaper while floating in the world's saltiest lake is a treat not to be missed.

However if you're after an action-packed adventure holiday, then Wadi Rum offers a wealth of outdoors activities: rock-climbing, camel trekking and Bedouin-style camping. Meanwhile, Aqaba, with its warm waters and rich marine life is a hot-spot for scuba diving and snorkelling - even giving Egypt's Sharm-El-Sheikh a good run for its money.

And although relatively small, the Gulf of Aqaba is frequented by an interesting mix of people - Saudis from across the border come here to escape their harsh summers, but also for the more liberal climate (teenage girls dressed in a full-body-and-head swimsuit can be seen enjoying a jet-ski ride); Eastern European and Russian tour groups come here to escape their harsh winters; and Jordanians from the North come here for weekends and holidays.

The diversity of visitors to Jordan is, of course, nothing new. Its strategic geographical position, sitting at the fringes of so many great empires, ensured that the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders and Ottomans all passed through.

By fighting wars, building cities, trading goods, paying taxes and generally interacting with native inhabitants such as the Nabateans and the Bedouins, all of these peoples have left behind rich cultural influences.

It is well-known that it is such an interaction of diverse cultures and civilizations, rather than any rigorous ‘cultural purity', that gives rise to truly impressive feats of human creativity and ingenuity.

Petra, the ancient city sculpted entirely from towering rock walls, with its imposing building facades and advanced social organisation, is a prime example of the greatness that arises from cultural confluence. So much so, that it has been elected one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

Along with the Great Wall of China, the Colosseum in Rome and the Taj Mahal in India, Petra is among the seven most impressive man-made constructions that still stand today - unlike the original Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, of which only the Pyramid of Giza in Egypt still remain.

But unlike many of the other new wonders of the world, Petra was never associated with any military power, and it was never at the centre of an ‘empire', in the common sense of the term.

The Nabateans, a nomadic tribe from Western Arabia who settled in the area around the sixth century BC, and whose name is inextricably linked to the marvels of Petra, built their fortunes through more diplomatic and subtle means.

While their initial wealth was derived by plundering the trade caravans that crossed through the area under their control, they soon moved on to levying tolls and drawing up trade agreements - their commercial acumen together with their strategic geographical location resulted in them becoming sole handlers not only of the region's famous frankincense and myrrh, but also of the spices shipped to Arabia by boat from West Africa and India.

It was under King Aretas IV (8 BC to AD 40), that the Nabbatean capital of Petra saw its hayday, when grand buildings in a blend of Egyptian, Greek, Roman and local styles were built.

The Treasury, for instance, Petra's most well-known and awe-inspiring building, has a Hellenistic façade, with its classical Greek columns, but with individual details that hint at diverse influences, and remain the subject of archaeological debate: the central figure above the entrance is thought to be an amalgamation of the Egyptian goddess Isis and the Nabatean goddess Al-‘Uzza, although some think it might actually be Tyche, the Roman goddess of fortune (who is, herself, originally Greek).

To this day, the Jordanians maintain close ties with peoples of different cultures, and are arguably the most cosmopolitan of all Arabs. The Hashemite royal family of Jordan is a case in point: while it claims unbroken descent from the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) through its male lineage, it is also renowned for its female members who were not born into Islam, but rather converted in order to marry into the royal family.

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