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jerash
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Jerash, located 48 km north of Amman and nestled in a quiet valley among the
mountains of Gilead, is the grandeur of Imperial Rome being one of the largest
and most well preserved sites of Roman architecture in the World outside Italy.
To this day, its paved and colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop temples, handsome
theaters, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains and city walls
pierced by towers and gates remain in exceptional condition. This fascinating
city makes a great day-trip from Amman, particularly in spring, when the
wildflowers are in bloom. The drive will take you less than an hour, but will
transport you 2000 years back in time. Within the remaining city walls,
archaeologists have found the ruins of settlements dating back to the Neolithic
Age, indicating human occupation of this location for more than 6500 years B.C.
This is not surprising, as the area is ideally suited for human habitation.
Jerash has a year-round supply of water, while its altitude of 500 meters gives
it a temperate climate and excellent visibility over the surrounding low-lying
areas.
The history of Jerash is a blend of the Greco-Roman world of the Mediterranean basin and the ancient traditions of the Arab Orient. Indeed, the name of the city itself reflects this interaction. The earliest Arabic/Semitic inhabitants named their village Garshu. The Romans later Hellenized the former Arabic name into Gerasa, and at the end of the 19th century, the Arab and Circassian inhabitants of the small rural settlement transformed the Roman Gerasa into the Arabic Jerash. The ancient city preserved today was the administrative, civic, commercial and cultural center of this community, while the majority of the city's citizens lived on the east side of Jerash Valley. As the 3rd century progressed, shipping began to take over as the main route for commerce. Jerash fell into decline as its previously lucrative trade routes became less traveled and therefore less valuable. By the middle of the 5th century, Christianity had become the major religion of the region and numerous churches were constructed in Jerash. Many churches were constructed of stones taken from pagan temples - and the remains of several can be seen today. The earthquake of 749 A.D was the main reason why this wonderful city was completely abandoned.