Gerasa was founded by Alexander the Great as a military outpost in 331BC. After it was conquered by Rome in 63BC, it remained a Roman city until 749. In the Byzantine era it was a Christian city with 25,000 citizens and more than 20 churches. Persian and Muslim conquests in the 7th century and a devastating earthquake in 749 followed by further earthquakes in the next hundred years, caused the city to be abandoned. It was rediscovered in 1806 and restoration began in 1925.
The city expanded south outside of the city walls in the 2nd century to Hadrian's Arch, built in 129-130 to commemorate the emperor's visit.
The first church we saw was the Church of Marianos, built in 570 amid subterranean 1-2nd century tombs...
Then we came to the Hippodrome. The original seated 10,000-15,000 spectators but little of it remains as it was raided by settlers in the late 19th century. Now it has reenactment shows for tourists...
We talked to both this group of school girls on a field trip and this Roman reenactor outside the Hippodrome...
The visitors' center was just before the South Gate of the city...
I loved the use of old water bottles for this flower bed
Then we reached the original Southern Gate of the city...
We then made our way to the Oval Plaza...
The Temple of Zeus overlooks the plaza...
The South Theater is the largest of the three theaters in Jerash. It was begun in 90AD and had royal boxes and awnings for shade. When we were there we got to listen to a bagpiper play, watch the school girls dance, and listen to some of our group sing...
hard to believe some of the columns still stand after
the earthquakes
A large market contained numerous shops and stalls...
these animal carvings are in front of the butcher's stall
a lion carving
We continued down the Cardo...
There were many merchants selling their wares. This guy actually made these sand art bottles, famous in Jordan, while we watched. So I bought one...
Still walking down the Cardo Maximus...
Until we reached the gateway to a Roman temple that was rebuilt as a church called the Cathedral, the oldest church in Jerash...
From the top we went to the Temple of Artemis...
Near the temple are several Byzantine churches built between 368 and 611 with exquisite mosaics! It's hard to believe they look so good while out in the weather! Some of the churches were actually built with adjoining walls...
There was also a hydraulic stone saw...
Then we went to the smaller North Theater...
Outside the North Theater you can also see the North
Gate in the distance
The North Gate
It was a very long trek from one end to the other, so we really had to hustle back to the bus...
I love the random pieces all just stacked together
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