Travel Guide

Place to Visit: Jerash

Stunning Greco-Roman City

Northern Jordan, Jordan

Not-to-be-missed Jerash is one of Jordan’s principle attractions, a superbly preserved Greco-Roman city complete with cart-rutted Cardo Maximus, theatres, shops, forum and much, much more. A visit here reveals a glimpse of life some 2,000 years ago when the Roman Empire stretched across much of Europe and as far as the Euphrates, but the city also has earlier links to Alexander the Great.

Great Reasons To Visit

  • Sit in the South Theatre and try the superb acoustics, noticing the seat numbers
  • Walk along the Cardo Maximus imagining it thronged with traders from all parts of the Roman Empire
  • Visit the Museum to see artefacts found at the site

Background

Just when work began on Jerash is not known and some scholars believe that it was founded by Alexander the Great in 332BC. What remains today dates from later Roman times and forms what is one of the world’s best examples of a large Roman city.

Jerash’s importance was such that it was a member of the Decapolis, a league of 10 city-states that were granted autonomy by the Romans. Its heyday was in the 1st to the 3rd centuries AD under the emperors Trajan, Hadrian, Caracalla and Diocletian. The Byzantine era saw temples changed to churches but in 747AD a serious earthquake shattered the city.

It was occupied in part until the 13th century but was then completely abandoned. Work today however reveals just what a city it was and a visit is essential for anyone visiting Jordan.

Relaxing

Sit for a few minutes at the top of the theatre and look down over the city, imagining it as it was in its heyday with chariots and carts in the streets. An amazing place to visit and a good way to put into context our lives today.

Jerash

The remains of Jerash are extensive. From the south visitors should first see Hadrian’s impressive Triumphal Arch and the Hippodrome. A visit to the Visitor’s Centre enables a scale model of the site to be seen – good for orientation - before proceeding to the 90m long Oval Forum, one of the outstanding features of the site: this was one of Jerash’s markets and a popular meeting place.

The nearby South Theatre is another of the city’s main sights: capable of seating several thousand spectators the numbers are still clearly visible on many seats. As you walk along the Cardo Maximus notice how grooves have been worn into it from years of chariots and carts. Notice too how every few metres the paving slabs are separated by a row of slabs running the full wide of the street to prevent earthquake damage ruining the whole length of the street; also visible are manholes, part of the extensive drainage system enjoyed by the inhabitants. Lining the street were shops behind which can now be found the remains of several churches dating from later Byzantine times.

Two Tetrapylons are located at the main crossroads along the Cardo Maximus whilst other things to see are the Nymphaeum, Agora, Sanctuary of Artemis and the Cathedral. The museum is well worth a visit holding examples of mosaics, glassware, coins and jewellery.

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