cultural monuments

Music in Jordan

The music scene reflects the country’s Arab culture, with strong ties to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Egypt, see Arabs (music). The forms and styles of art music are based on the common, pan-Islamic music theory and performance practice. Folk music exhibits more regional character, with instruments such as zamr mujwiz (double clarinet ) and rabāb (single string fiddle). Western influence, i.a. harmonization and rhythmic / melodic simplification are noticeable in popular music.

Art in Jordan

From Roman times there is in the ruins of Petra, about halfway between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea), several buildings carved into the mountain, among other things. an Isi temple with late Roman magnificent facade.

Early Islamic sculpture, ornamentation and visual art are preserved in the desert palaces of the Omayyads from the 7th century, in murals with figurative scenes in late classical tradition in Quasayr Amra, in Msatta’s façade decor and in mosaics, sculpture and stucco reliefs in Khirbat al-Mafjar. In handicrafts, Islamic influence is felt in the eastern Mediterranean. See Islam (art).

Jordan’s culture is significantly influenced by Arab culture, as well as in later years by Western influence. The country has a number of cultural monuments from several periods, especially Roman and early Islamic times, with the ruins of Petra as the most famous – and one of several on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. Under the British force a Jordanian national feeling arose, which helped to characterize the modern culture, with lyric playing a central role.

cultural monuments

The country has a number of cultural monuments from several periods, especially Roman and early Islamic times, with the ruins of Petra as the most famous.

Both Islamic and Western culture characterize Jordan’s educational system. Primary education is compulsory and free for everyone for ten years. There are also approx. 200 schools for Palestinian refugees run by the UN. Around 90 percent of the country’s children attend elementary school, which is followed by a two-year high school. Higher education has been developed especially since the 1980s, with several universities and colleges; Jordan University of Amman was founded in 1962.