The Roman Theater and Odeon are ancient performance spaces in downtown Amman, arranged on either side of Hashemite Plaza. A visit lets you compare the larger Roman Theater with the smaller Odeon and see how each was laid out for an audience.
- Location: downtown Amman, flanking Hashemite Plaza.
- Shared admission: 2 JOD for both sites; children under 12 enter free.
- Seasonal hours: opening times vary, including separate schedules for winter, summer and Ramadan.
The Roman Theater and its setting
The Roman Theater is the larger of the two venues, with seating arranged in three levels above its semicircular orchestra and stage platform.
Built in the 2nd century AD, during the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius, the theater dates to the period when Amman was known as Philadelphia. It could accommodate approximately 6,000 spectators. Its layout includes a cavea, a main audience entrance and dressing rooms, alongside the orchestra and stage.
The seating tiers are called the ima cavea, media cavea and summa cavea. Restoration began in 1957. The Department of Antiquities established the Museum of Popular Life in the theater’s western basement and the Folklore Museum of Jewelry and Costumes in its eastern basement.
The theater stands south of Roman Street and east of the Amman Stream. The question of how to visit Amman Citadel pairs naturally with planning a wider look at the city’s historic sites.
What to look for at the Odeon
The Odeon is a smaller, semicircular venue with a cavea, orchestra, stage platform and dressing rooms.
It was built in Philadelphia in the 2nd century AD, in 130 AD, and completed around AD 141. Its capacity was 400 spectators, making its scale a useful contrast with the Roman Theater. Look at the curved seating and the stage area to understand the basic arrangement of this performance space.
The Roman Theater lies south of Hashemite Plaza, while the Odeon is to its east. The two sites are listed together as one attraction on Jordan’s official e-ticket site.
Walking between the two sites and downtown
The Roman Theater and Odeon flank Hashemite Plaza, so you can see both during the same downtown visit. From the Toledo Amman Hotel, the Roman Theater is about 2.3 km away.
The Roman Nymphaeum is a short stroll northwest of the theater and Odeon. You can group it with the two performance sites as part of a downtown outing. For a broader route through the city, how to plan one day in Amman from the Citadel to downtown offers another way to connect historic stops.
Admission, opening times and visitor access
The shared ticket for the Roman Theater and Odeon costs 2 JOD, and children under 12 enter free, according to Jordan’s official e-ticket listing.
The official seasonal-hours table gives these opening patterns:
- Winter: 8:00 am–4:00 pm from November through April.
- Summer: 8:00 am–6:30 pm.
- April and May: 8:00 am–5:30 pm.
- Ramadan: 9:00 am–5:00 pm.
The seasonal table includes overlapping descriptions for April, so confirm the schedule that applies to your visit. Before you go, check the official site of Jordan’s Department of Antiquities for current ticket and opening details.
FAQs
Where are the Roman Theater and Odeon?
Both are in downtown Amman and flank Hashemite Plaza. The Roman Theater is south of the plaza, and the Odeon is to its east.
How many people could the Roman Theater hold?
It could accommodate approximately 6,000 spectators.
Is the Nymphaeum close to the theater?
The Roman Nymphaeum is a short stroll northwest of the Roman Theater and Odeon.