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THE
COLLONADED ROMAN STREET IN
JERASH |
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THE
SHRINE OF THE PROPHET HUD
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THE DECAPOLIS
The Romans
established the Decapolis, a league of
ten cities in the land of northern Jordan,
Syria and Palestine - to facilitate the
area's trade and commerce, and to protect
the far regions of their empire. Four
of the cities lie in Jordan: Philadelphia
(now Amman), Jarash the best-preserved
and most complete city of the Decapolis,
Pella and Umm Qays.
The popular tourist attraction Pella is
situated in the northern Jordan Valley.
Here is ample evidence of early human
occupation, with visible structures dating
from the Roman, Byzantine and Islamic
periods. It was during the Graeco-Roman
period, however, that Pella truly prospered.
The Byzantine era saw a revitalisation
of Pella, as trade routes strengthened
and local industries developed. Known
in Arabic as Tabaqat Fahl, Pella was the
site of the famous Battle of Fahl, fought
between the Byzantines and the Muslim
army led by Khalid bin Al-Walid 
and Abu Ubeida Amer bin Al-Jarrah
in January 635 A.D. The outcome was a
Muslim victory and liberation of Jordan
from Byzantine rule. Pella continued to
prosper under Islamic Umayyad rule.
Of comparable importance among the Decapolis
sites is Umm Qays, known in antiquity
as Gadara. Renowned in its time as a cultural
centre, Umm Qays was home to several poets
and philosophers such as Theodorus, who
described it as the new Athens. Perched
on a splendid hilltop, Umm Qays boasts
an impressive colonnaded terrace of ruins
of two theatres, overlooking the Jordan
Valley, the Sea of Galilee and the Golan
Heights. Jesus Christ 
performed the famous Miracle of the Gadarean
Swine here.
Less
than one hour's drive north of Amman,
nestled in a green and well-watered valley
is the Graeco-Roman city of Jarash (Gerasa
in ancient times). Known as the Pompeii
of the East for its extraordinary state
of preservation, Jarash is the largest
and best-preserved Roman city outside
Italy.
Built
to honour the Emperor Hadrian's arrival
at Jarash in 129 A.D., the imposing triple-arched
gateway greets you as you approach the
city. Within the remaining city walls
of Jarash you can return to ancient times
as you wander along colonnaded streets
leading you towards original hilltop temples,
spectacular theatres, plazas, baths and
public squares. Especially in July, this
ancient community comes to life as the
annual Jarash Festival of Culture and
Arts attracts numerous visitors.
On a hilltop, not far from Jarash, you
can visit the shrine of the Prophet Hud
.
Here is a modern mosque with a cave inside
where Prophet Hud
is believed to be buried. He preached
to the people of 'Ad to only worship the
One God instead of their idols. Prophet
Hud
has the eleventh Sura in the Holy Quran
named after him.
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