After shopping at the grocery and spending time with Emerson in the morning, Claire, Papa, and I left for Jerash around 11 this morning. We arrived by 12:30 and had a picnic in the car while a light rain fell. By the time we found the ticket desk, the sun had come out.
Jerash impressed us! It is considered one of the most important and best preserved Roman cities in the Near East. Recent excavations show that Jerash was already inhabited during the Bronze Age (3200 BC - 1200 BC).
In the second half of the first century AD, the city of Jerash achieved great prosperity. In AD 106, the Emperor Trajan constructed roads throughout the provinces and more trade came to Jerash. The Emperor Hadrian visited Jerash in AD 129-130. The triumphal arch, Arch of Hadrian was built to celebrate his visit.
The Persian invasion in AD 614 caused the rapid decline of Jerash. However, the city continued to flourish during the Umayyad Period, as shown by recent excavations. In AD 749, a major earthquake destroyed much of Jerash and its surroundings. During the period of the Crusades, some of the monuments were converted to fortresses, including the Temple of Artemis. Excavation and restoration of Jerash has been almost continuous since the 1920s.
Remains in Jerash include Corinthian columns, Hadrian's Arch, hippodrome, two large temples, a unique oval Forum surrounded by a collonnade, a long colonnaded street, two theatres, and more.
Jerash impressed us! It is considered one of the most important and best preserved Roman cities in the Near East. Recent excavations show that Jerash was already inhabited during the Bronze Age (3200 BC - 1200 BC).
In the second half of the first century AD, the city of Jerash achieved great prosperity. In AD 106, the Emperor Trajan constructed roads throughout the provinces and more trade came to Jerash. The Emperor Hadrian visited Jerash in AD 129-130. The triumphal arch, Arch of Hadrian was built to celebrate his visit.
The Persian invasion in AD 614 caused the rapid decline of Jerash. However, the city continued to flourish during the Umayyad Period, as shown by recent excavations. In AD 749, a major earthquake destroyed much of Jerash and its surroundings. During the period of the Crusades, some of the monuments were converted to fortresses, including the Temple of Artemis. Excavation and restoration of Jerash has been almost continuous since the 1920s.
Remains in Jerash include Corinthian columns, Hadrian's Arch, hippodrome, two large temples, a unique oval Forum surrounded by a collonnade, a long colonnaded street, two theatres, and more.
