The legend of the ‘seven sleepers’ has several parallels throughout literature. It involves seven Christian boys who were persecuted by the Roman Emperor Trajan, then escaped to a cave and slept there for 309 years. This is one of several locations (the most famous being Ephesus in Turkey) that claim to be that cave. Inside the main cave – also known as Ahl al-Kahf (Cave of the People) – are eight smaller tombs that are sealed, though one has a hole in it through which you can see a creepy collection of human bones. Above and below the cave are the remains of two mosques. About 500m west of the cave is a large Byzantine cemetery , whose tombs are sadly full of rubbish. The cave is to the right of a large new mosque complex in the village of Rajib, off the road from Amman to Sabah. Buses from Amman to Sabah pass 500m from the mosque; catch them at Wahadat bus station (less than JD1, 15 minutes). Alternatively, take a minibus from Quraysh St in downtown, ask for ‘al-Kahf’ and the driver will show you where to get off to change for a Sabah bus. The easiest way there is by chartered taxi (around JD5 each way).
