Jerash
About Jerash
In ancient times, Jerash was one of the wealthiest and most cosmopolitan cities in the ancient Near East (today Middle East). Founded as a Hellenistic city in the 2nd century BCE, it was one of the cities of the Roman Decapolis. Jerash is today noted for its fine Roman and Byzantine ruins, ranked among one of the best-preserved cities of the Decapolis.
Roman and Byzantine Empire
Jerash flourished from its prime location at the axes of several trade routes. It developed into the magnificent Greek-Roman city complex of 2nd century CE, to which almost twenty Byzantine churches were added by 600 AD, and then numerous Umayyad buildings in the 7th century. Ancient Jerash was divided in two by the Jerash Wadi. Most of the inhabitants lived on the east side while the west side was the religious, administrative and economic centre.
Highlights of Jerash
The monumental gateway, Hadrian’s Arch, leads over the 15,000-seat Hippodrome to the Sanctuary of Zeus, right in the heart of the town. The famous Oval Plaza is the only oval-shaped plaza ever found in a classical-era city site. The colonnaded Cardo Maximus is original and laid out in the 1st century. The Sanctuary of Artemis was Jerash’s most important and largest temple complex, rimmed by ten towering Corinthian columns. The Cathedral Complex was built atop an earlier classical-era temple.
Interesting Facts
- Jerash is the Arabic version of the biblical city of Gerasa.
- The western part of the city has remained preserved because it was abandoned by the inhabitants after the earthquake of 747 AD, and for centuries, hardly any structural interventions were done there.
- The city was rediscovered in 1806 and restoration of the ruins began in 1925. Many of the churches once contained exquisite mosaics that were later damaged by the invading Arab armies as well as earthquakes in the region.
