Seil Amman in the context of "Ayn Ghazal (archaeological site)"

Philadelphia (Ancient Greek: Φιλαδέλφεια) was a historical city located in the southern Levant, which was part of the Greek, Nabataean, Roman, and Byzantine realms between the third century BC and the seventh century AD. With the start of the Islamic era, the city regained its ancient name of Amman, eventually becoming the capital of Jordan. Philadelphia was initially centered on the Citadel Hill, later spreading to the nearby valley, where a stream flowed.

Around 255 BC, Rabbath Amman was seized by Ptolemy II, the Macedonian Greek ruler of Egypt, who rebuilt and renamed it Philadelphia in honor of his nickname–a name change which contemporary sources mostly ignored. The city's significance grew as it became a frontier in the Syrian Wars, frequently changing hands between the Ptolemaic and the Seleucid empires. By the early second century BC, Philadelphia became part of the Nabataean Kingdom, with a large Arab Nabataean community residing in the city before and after the kingdom's rule.

Downtown Amman (Arabic: وسط البلد, romanized: Wasat Al-Balad) is the old town of Jordan's capital, Amman. Nestled in a narrow valley called Wadi Amman, the downtown is a popular tourist destination, known for its shopping souks and ancient ruins.

The Amman valley, surrounded by valleys, was historically crossed by the Seil stream. In the first millennium BC, the Ammonites settled atop a hill overlooking the valley. During the second century AD, the city - then known as Philadelphia - flourished under Roman rule, with landmarks such as a theater, an Odeon, and a Nymphaeum being built near the Seil. In the seventh century AD, an Umayyad mosque was built near a marketplace, later replaced by the Grand Husseini Mosque.