“Jerash survived so intact, colonnaded streets, temples and an oval plaza, because earthquakes and sand buried it for centuries, earning it the nickname the 'Pompeii of the East'.”
About Jerash
Settled since the Bronze Age, Jerash flourished under Roman rule as a city of the Decapolis, reaching its peak in the second and third centuries CE. A series of earthquakes, beginning with a major one in 749 CE, ruined and emptied it, and sand covered the ruins until excavation began in the 1920s, revealing one of the Roman world's most complete provincial cities.
Overview Jerash is one of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities anywhere, a sprawling site of colonnaded streets, temples, theatres and a unique oval plaza ringed by columns. Part of the Decapolis league of cities, it was buried by earthquakes and sand for centuries, which is precisely why so much survived. Visitors enter beneath Hadrian's Arch, built for the emperor's visit in 129 CE.
Overview Jerash is one of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities anywhere, a sprawling site of colonnaded streets, temples, theatres and a unique oval plaza ringed by columns.
Walking the City The Cardo Maximus, the main colonnaded avenue, still shows the ruts worn by chariot wheels. The Oval Plaza, the temples of Zeus and Artemis, the hippodrome and two theatres are all walkable, and bagpipers, a legacy of British forces, sometimes play in the south theatre to demonstrate its acoustics.
The Experience
You pass under Hadrian's Arch, then through the columned Oval Plaza into the long Cardo, where ancient drains and chariot ruts are still visible underfoot. The theatres have such precise acoustics that a voice from the stage carries to the top row. It is a city you walk through rather than a single monument, so give it a couple of hours.
Why It Matters
Jerash is among the finest surviving examples of Roman provincial urban planning, valued for the completeness of its street grid, public buildings and temples. It anchors Jordan's Roman heritage alongside the capital's own ruins.
Jerash is among the finest surviving examples of Roman provincial urban planning, valued for the completeness of its street grid, public buildings and temples.
Why Visit
Walking a near-complete Roman city, rather than scattered fragments, is rare, and Jerash is an easy day trip north of Amman. Go in the cooler morning, test the theatre acoustics from the stage, and pair it with Ajloun Castle nearby.
✦ Insider Tips
- 1
Stand on the stage of the south theatre to hear its remarkable acoustics carry your voice.
- 2
Go early in the day, as the site is large, open and offers little shade by midday.
- 3
Combine it with Ajloun Castle, a short drive away, for a full day north of Amman.
- 4
Look down for the chariot-wheel ruts and drain covers worn into the Cardo's paving.
