Culture

Published on November 17th, 2012 | by Charu Suri

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14 Reasons To Fall In Love With Jerash, Jordan’s Cultural Capital

Amman may be Jordan’s capital and studded with beautiful limestone houses, but it was Jerash that won my heart on my recent trip to Jordan. Steeped in history and witness to an unbroken chain of various civilizations, this ancient city will make you feel as though you’ve entered the territory of H.G. Wells. Time stops in this beautiful city.

Dubbed the “Pompeii of the East,” Jerash is not only the city I believe is Jordan’s cultural capital, but also a magnificent landmark equal to Petra. Prepare to get your mind blown.

One of the several versions of Emperor Hadrian’s Arch in the world: the triumphal arch was built to celebrate his visit

Even though you may be a well-seasoned traveler, here are reasons why should add Jerash to your bucket list:

1. There’s an inescapable feeling as though you’ve arrived in Greece and Rome. The place is dripping with history, and the ruins are beautifully preserved

2. One of the ten great Roman cities under the umbrella of the “Decapolis,” Jerash (or Gerasa, as it was once called), will make you truly realize the depth and breadth of the Roman Empire

3. There is a Hippodrome where chariot races are performed. If you loved “Gladiator,” you can take in one of the smallest hippodromes in the Roman Empire: it used to seat around 5,000 (the largest, by contrast, was in Constantinople, and could seat over 60,000)

4. The unmistakable Hadrian’s Arch, which is a carbon copy of the several that are floating around the world (one of them is in London), is a great photo spot. Once you’ve crossed this arch you will find yourself privy to the majesty of the hills studded with historic ruins

5. The second largest “Temple of Artemis,” in the world, next only to the “Temple of Diana” (one of the Ancient Wonders of the World) is in Jerash. Once you view the massive Corinthian Columns, you’ll realize how impressive a feat of engineering this Temple is

The pint-size Hippodrome where chariot races were held

6. Reborn as a Christian city in the Byzantine era, Jerash is home to several churches. At least 15 Byzantine churches have been found here, and many believe there are several more waiting to be unearthed

7. You will marvel at the faded but still bright mosaic floors, which retain their colors despite being exposed to all the elements: sun, wind, rain

8. You can walk on the original cobblestones on the Cardo Maximus (the “heart” or the main street in Jerash) and reminisce about the good old days of 130 AD

9. You can also marvel at the ruts of the chariot wheels now quasi fossilized on the stones

10. From the Temple of Zeus with its unmistakable Ionic columns, to the Temple of Dionysus, Jerash gives you an in depth lesson in the art of the ancient temples of worship

The Forum, which was filled with stoa, or open-air vendors. In Latin, “forum” means “an outdoor area”

11. I particularly loved the Nymphaeum, or large fountain, so much so that I bought a sterling silver bracelet with aquatic motifs that a vendor was selling. The cost? Only US $10. There are several vendors offering such merchandise in Jerash, but you should (understandably) be wary of some

12. There is also the “Time Traveler” aspect of visiting the ruins: imagine the Forum densely packed with visitors and the open-air altars filled with priests and deities. The small theatre or Odeon was where less important events were held

13. You’ll realize there is much more to Jordan than Petra

14. From the Greek inscriptions to the Byzantine churches, the place gives you leaps of history like nowhere else in the world

The Temple of Zeus with its graceful and stately Corinthian columns

The second largest Temple of Artemis in the world is in Jerash

View of the city and the Temple of Dionysus

A sterling silver bracelet with motifs of the Nymphaeum

This used to be the “Butchery” where slabs of meat were cut and sold

Tags: 14 Reasons, Fall in Love with Jerash, Jordan's Cultural Capital

About the Author

Charu Suri