Irbid (Arabic: إربد), known in ancient times as Arabella, is a city in Jordan located about 70 km north of Amman on the northern ridge of the Gilead. According to the 1992 census, the population of Irbid is 208,329, although this number may actually be closer to 327,543 in 2007.[1] Arabic redirects here. ... For other meanings, see Amman (disambiguation) and Ammann. ... From the Scriptures, Gilead means hill of testimony or mound of witness, (Gen. ...

Equidistant from Pella and Umm Qais, Irbid is the seat of the Irbid Governorate. The city has a bustling community and is a major ground transportation hub between Amman, Syria to the north, and Mafraq to the east. Pella, Jordan, known in Arabic as Tabaqat Fahl (طبقة فحل), is a village and the site of ancient ruins in northwestern Jordan. ... This entry incorporates text from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia with some modernisation. ... Mafraq (Arabic المفرق Al-Mafraq, local dialects Mafrag or Mafra ) is one of the governorates of Jordan. ...

The Irbid region is also home to several colleges and universities, of which the two most prominent are Jordan University of Science and Technology and Yarmouk University. Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jordan university of science and technology Jordan University of Science and Technology logo . The Jordan University of Science and Technology (Arabic: جامعة العلوم والتكنولوجيا الأردنية), often abbreviated JUST, is a comprehensive, state-supported university located outside of Irbid at Ar Ramtha region, in northern Jordan. ... Yarmouk University is a university in Jordan. ...

History

Artifacts and graves in the area show that Irbid has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. Before the advent of Islam, the city was known as Arabella and was famous for producing some of the best wines in the ancient world. The area in the region had extremely fertile soil, with the moderate climate allowing the growing of high quality grapes. The Bronze Age is a period in a civilizations development when the most advanced metalworking has developed the techniques of smelting copper from natural outcroppings and alloys it to cast bronze. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... For other uses, see Wine (disambiguation). ...

In the Hellenistic period, it was a major trade center and the birthplace of Nittai of Arbela. The term Hellenistic (established by the German historian Johann Gustav Droysen) in the history of the ancient world is used to refer to the shift from a culture dominated by ethnic Greeks, however scattered geographically, to a culture dominated by Greek-speakers of whatever ethnicity, and from the political dominance... Nittai of Arbela (Hebrew: נתאי הארבלי) was av beit din or vice-president of the Sanhedrin under the nasi Joshua ben Perachyah at the time of John Hyrcanus. ...

After the introduction of Islam, the city became known as Irbid, and moved from wine to olive oil production. Wheat was also an important product in the area. For the Popeye character, see Olive Oyl. ...

The city of Irbid is notable for being close to the site of the Battle of Yarmouk, a decisive battle across the banks of the Yarmouk River, roughly 30 kilometres north of the city. The battle was waged between the Arabs and the Roman Empire. It set the stage for the departure of Roman armies from Greater Syria and the beginning of the expansion of the Muslim rule. This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... The Yarmouk River (Arabic:Nahr Al-Yarmuk; Hebrew:נהר הירמוך, Nehar HaYarmukh; Greek:Hieromax) is one of the three main tributaries which enter the Jordan River between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea (the other being the Jabbok). ... “km” redirects here. ...

Irbid is the home of the Hussein football club. غزاة الشمال.

Modern Irbid

Irbid Mall in Western Irbid

Irbid today combines the bustle of a provincial Middle Eastern town and the youthful nightlife of a typical college town, while being less affected by the urbanization and growth that have impacted larger cities such as Amman. ^{[citation needed]} Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... For other meanings, see Amman (disambiguation) and Ammann. ...

Though not usually a major tourist destination itself, Irbid is home to two notable museums: the Museum of Jordanian Heritage and the Jordan Natural History Museum, both on the campus of Yarmouk University. University Street, which defines the western border of the Yarmouk University campus, is popular with locals as well as with the occasional foreign visitor who stops to relax in any of its numerous restaurants and cafés. University Street is also well-known because it is less than 1 km long but has more than 130 Internet cafés, making it number one in the world in Internet cafés by density^{[citation needed]}. Furthermore, Irbid's strategic location in northern Jordan makes it a convenient starting point for tourists interested in seeing the northern Jordan Valley; visiting Umm Qais, Pella, Ajloun, Umm Al-Jimal, and other historical sites; or traveling on to Syria. Yarmouk University is a university in Jordan. ... For other uses, see Density (disambiguation). ... Northern part of the Great Rift Valley as seen from space (NASA) The Jordan River The Jordan River (Hebrew: נהר הירדן nehar hayarden, Arabic: نهر الأردن nahr al-urdun) is a river in Southwest Asia flowing through the Great Rift Valley into the Dead Sea. ... This entry incorporates text from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia with some modernisation. ... Pella, Jordan, known in Arabic as Tabaqat Fahl (طبقة فحل), is a village and the site of ancient ruins in northwestern Jordan. ... Ajlun castle Ajlun (alternative spelling Ajloun) is a hill town in the north of Jordan with an impressive 12th century castle. ...

Irbid hosted the 1999 Pan Arab Games. Logo of he 1999 Pan Arab Games August 15 and August 31, 1999. ...

External links

• Greater Irbid Municipality
• Irbid Guide
• Irbid News
• Jordan University of Science and Technology
• Yarmouk University
• Irbid University

Coordinates: 32°33′N, 35°51′E Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...