Jerash was described to us as one of the most beautiful roman cities you can visit.
Every Roman city has a gate at its entrance. This is the gate to lead you to the gate of the city.
It has some pretty elaborate designs in the columns.
It had some Greek influence as well as that was the language of the area.
Here’s the hiippodrome with one lonely horse walking the track.
Here’s the way to the city and between all those blocks are small gaps where shops would be.
Here’s the big temple. Well what’s left of it. There were several earthquakes in this area which is the major cause of the damage.
Down here was the terminus where people could go to make their sacrifices. Only the priests were allowed in the temple proper.
Here’s amphitheater number one.
See you can hear it in the front row.
And in the back row.
Here’s the big forum where business was done between the pillars.
There are a couple Byzantine churches that have mosaic floors. Here’s a dog with a scarf.
And an elephant.
The city is huge.
It is so large in fact that everything they have uncovered is only a quarter. Most of the city is still buried in the hill or where the current city resides.
Here’s another temple. The columns were put back up but that’s all.
Despite the earthquakes the column tops have survived.
Here’s the decumanus (eat-west) road that runs into the present day city.
Here’s the cardo maximus, the main road that runs north south.
Underneath the road ran the sewer system.
Not collecting garbage and a place for power cables.
Here’s the second amphitheatre. It isn’t as big.
Definitely number 3 on the best Roman cities outside of Rome. (Can you guess number 1 and 2?) We’ve been to both on our cruise.
