IRBID

town, northern Jordan. The town is built on successive Early Bronze Age settlements and was possibly the biblical Beth Arbel and the Arbila of the Decapolis, a Hellenistic league of the 1st century BC through the 2nd century AD. Modern Irbid is one of Jordan's industrial areas, as well as an agricultural centre for Jordan's most fertile region. The many springs in the area, in addition to the Yarmuk River, provide water for the irrigation of crops. Yarmuk University was founded in the town in 1976. Its languages of instruction are both Arabic and English, with faculties in arts, sciences, economics, education, and engineering. Pop. (1989 est.) 167,785.