Museum of Popular Traditions | Amman

Information

Landmark: Museum of Popular Traditions
City: Amman
Country: Jordan
Continent: Asia

Museum of Popular Traditions, Amman, Jordan, Asia

The Museum of Popular Traditions is a cultural institution situated within the western vault of the Roman Theater in Amman, Jordan. It is designed to display the diverse traditional crafts and costumes of Jordanian and Palestinian heritage.

Visual Characteristics

The museum is housed inside the ancient stone vaults of the theater's substructure, featuring thick limestone walls and barrel-arched ceilings. The interior environment is dimly lit to protect delicate textiles, with exhibits arranged in glass vitrines along the stone-paved corridors. The physical space is integrated directly into the 2nd-century Roman masonry, providing a stark contrast between the ancient architecture and the late-19th to mid-20th-century artifacts.

Location & Access Logistics

The site is located on Al Hashemi Street, occupying the western wing of the Roman Theater complex. It is approximately 1 kilometer east of the Al-Husseini Grand Mosque. Access is through the main theater entrance; visitors typically arrive via yellow taxi or "service" jitney from the downtown terminal. Parking is restricted to paid public lots in the Al-Balad district, as there is no dedicated museum parking.

Historical & Ecological Origin

Established in 1971 by the Department of Antiquities, the museum was founded to showcase the traditional life and identity of the local population. The structure itself dates back to the Roman period (138–161 AD), repurposed during the 20th century to serve as a climate-stable environment for historical collections.

Key Highlights & Activities

The museum is divided into five main sections. Highlights include a rare collection of 6th-century Byzantine mosaics from Madaba and Jerash.

Costume Exhibit: Displays of traditional hand-embroidered dresses (Thobs) and silver jewelry.

Domestic Tools: Collections of clay pots, copper vessels, and weaving tools used in rural and Bedouin life.

Mosaic Viewing: Close-up inspection of historical mosaic fragments moved to the museum for preservation.

Jewelry Collection: Display of silver amulets, necklaces, and traditional bridal headpieces.

Infrastructure & Amenities

Restrooms are available within the Roman Theater plaza. The stone vaults provide natural thermal insulation, keeping the interior cool, though there is no central HVAC system. 5G cellular signal is available. Food and water can be purchased from numerous vendors in the adjacent downtown markets.

Best Time to Visit

The museum is open daily from 08:00 to 18:00 (winter) or 19:00 (summer). Visit between 08:00 and 10:00 to avoid the high midday temperatures in the outdoor theater plaza. Photography is permitted, but the use of flash is restricted in textile sections.

Facts & Legends

The museum houses a unique collection of silver jewelry once believed to protect the wearer from the "evil eye," a common folk belief in the region. A verified historical oddity is that some of the Byzantine mosaics on the floor were rescued from sites that are now completely submerged or built over.