Behind these 2000 year old ruins (the columns, not Jim!) lies a crowded hillside of houses in Amman, Jordan ( Greek Myths, She & He: Adventures in Mythology, Heroes in Mythology, The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Sitting among the ancient Roman ruins and looking out over modern Amman, Jim and Randy talked of the Greek and Roman myths, and how history is not just "way back then." We are part of the ongoing flow. ( Greek Myths, She & He: Adventures in Mythology, Heroes in Mythology, The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
The Roman Temple of Hercules, a 2000-year-old Roman temple in Amman. Those Greeks and Romans covered a lot of ground from Britain to the Middle East and north Africa! ( Greek Myths, She & He: Adventures in Mythology, Heroes in Mythology, The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
That's Jim by the temple ruins to give you an idea of how big those Roman columns really were. (Amman) ( Greek Myths, She & He: Adventures in Mythology, Heroes in Mythology, The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Ancient Roman theatre in Amman. Such theatres seated thousands of people. The Greeks and Romans put on plays dramatizing the Greek and Roman myths. ( Greek Myths, She & He: Adventures in Mythology, Heroes in Mythology, The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
To enter Petra, one walks through a narrow passage way with beautiful rocks adorning either side. ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Here is a rock formation in the passage way to Petra that has an amazing resemblance to an elephant! ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Behold the first glimpse (from the narrow passage way into Petra) of the "Treasury". ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Imagine a city carved entirely out of rock, with marble streets! This is Petra. Here you see the "Treasury" structure. ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Here is Jim in Petra. Note how tiny he and the other people look compared to the enormity of the "Treasury" building. ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Just look at the detail that remains on a Petra building. Can't you just imagine what it looked like in ancient times? ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Here's Jim "on stage" at the Roman-style theatre in Petra. Nabataean engineers were brought to this city to create the theatre. The acoustics are so good that words spoken at a normal level can be heard in the top row. Can't you just imagine Jim telling a story here if you and he had lived during these ancient times? ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Our Petra tour guide points out one of the cave dwellings that he and his family actually lived in until he was about 10 years old. It's a great idea to employ a local guide at sites like this.
Petra dwellings and tombs built right into the rock. (The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
In Petra, two camels: an ancient version of the mini-van or SUV. Abraham probably journeyed on such a "vehicle". ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Jim and Randy in awe of their surroundings at Petra. Note the graceful road that sweeps through the city, and the cave dwellings carved into the mountain. ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Here's Randy on the steps leading to an ancient temple in Petra. ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Here is what is left of the tile floor in the Byzantine Church in Petra. ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Ancient castle near Petra. ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Here's Jim in front of the Crusader Castle near Petra. ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
During the time of Robin Hood, and of King Richard the Lionhearted, this Crusader Castle atop a high hill near Petra, commanded a wide area of what is today, Jordan. ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
The Jordan River is so famous, we assume it must be huge, and fast-moving. Here you see the Jordan River near the baptism site of Jesus. It's actually quite narrow and still. ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
This was the site where 2000 years ago, John the Baptist baptised Jesus in the Jordan River. The river channel has changed and this site is dry today. ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
The steps down into the now-dry section of the Jordan River, at the actual site of Jesus's baptism. Rivers change courses, and now the river is about 100 steps away. ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Here are Jim, Randy and daughter Danna at the "new" Baptismal site at the Jordan River. Directly across the small river is Israel. ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
A beautiful church at the Baptismal Site. ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Mt. Nebo - a view from the peaks gives you an idea of the mix of greenery and harsh landscapes. ( Tales From the Old Testament, The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
A church atop Mt. Nebo near the site from which Moses was allowed to view the Promised Land. He is buried somewhere on this mountain. ( Tales From the Old Testament, The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Another view at Mt. Nebo. ( Tales From the Old Testament, Jewish Holiday Stories,The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
This lovely church sits atop the peak of Mt. Nebo somewhere near Moses' grave. ( Tales From the Old Testament, Jewish Holiday Stories,The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Atop Mt. Nebo, you can look out over the West Bank and Israel; north toward the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberias). ( Tales From the Old Testament, Jewish Holiday Stories,The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
This is the view Moses glimpsed from atop Mt. Nebo when he looked over the Jordan River to the Holy Land. ( Tales From the Old Testament, Jewish Holiday Stories,The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Another view of Mt. Nebo. ( Tales From the Old Testament, Jewish Holiday Stories,The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients)
Here are Jim, Danna and our Jordanian fried, Jamal, at the gate to the ancient Roman city of Jerash, one of the best preserved Roman sites we have ever visited.( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
This was "Main Street" for the Romans in Jerash 2000 years ago. The Romans learned many things from the Greeks, including architecture. They then created even greater feats of architecture and engineering - AND THEY BUILT TO LAST! ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Here is another shot of the main thoroughfare of ancient Jerash.( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Wow! 2000 year-old chariot tracks worn in the stone streets of Jerash. ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
This temple dedicated to the Greco-Roman goddess, Artemis, in Jerash was the largest of the ROman temples there two millenia ago. ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Here's Jim at the Roman theatre in Jerash. The doorway leads to stairs up to the upper seats. The rich and powerful never had to climb the stairs. As John Lennon sadi, "Those of you in the upper rows please applaud. Those down in the front can just rattle your jewelry." Some things never change. ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Jordanian guards protect this cherished "South Theatre" at Jerash. ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Jim and Danna enjoy a bagpiper piping in the "South Theatre" at Jerash. ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Bagpiper in Jerash. ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
The "Temple of Artemis" (named after the Greek goddess) at Jerash. ( Greek Myths, The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Here we see the well-preserved ruins of Jerash against the background of modern Jordan. You can also see the potential for hiking and exploring in Jerash. ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )
Jim and Danna walk toward the "Oval Plaza" in Jerash. ( The Story of the World, Vol. I -The Ancients )