Is Jerash Worth Visiting?

Jordan is blessed with more than its fair share of amazing places to visit, especially for a country of its size. The Rose Red city of Petra is undoubtedly the jewel in its crown, indeed Petra is one of the seven wonders of the modern world. And there many other fantastic places to visit including the Dead Sea and the Wadi Rum. With so many sights to see, is the Roman city of Jerash worth visiting? We think so. Here’s why:

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Where is Jerash?

Jerash is located in northern Jordan, around 50km from the capital city, Amman, in the northern part of the country. It is an easy day trip from Amman. Jerash is home to some of the world’s best preserved Roman and Greek ruins outside Italy and Greece. It is an extensive site with a remarkable history.

History of Jerash

The area has been inhabited since the Bronze Age but it was Alexander the Great who founded the city, known as Gerasa, according to Greek inscriptions found within the city. The Romans conquered the area in 63 BCE and established a thriving city within the Roman province of Arabia, which included Petra and Amman. This was a centre for trade and the city became very prosperous. Many Roman roads were constructed. Emperor Hadrian, who is most famous for building his eponymous wall in England, visited Gerasa in 129 CE.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the city also prospered during the Byzantine era and under the Umayyad Caliphate but was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 749 CE.

Visiting Jerash

There are many ways to reach Jerash. You can find an organised trip, which will usually pick you up from your accommodation, or you could hire a private driver, or you could rent a car and drive yourself. Buses are also available. The traffic in Amman is, well, challenging so we didn’t fancy driving. Some of the tours will also include visits to Ajloun castle and the city of Umm Qais.

It takes around an hour to reach Jerash from Amman and we recommend spending at least three hours here as there is a lot to see.

It costs 12 JD to visit the site and this includes entry to the adjacent archaeological museum. If you have bought a Jordan Pass, entry to Jerash is included in the cost of the pass.

We also recommend getting a guide. If you are visiting with a tour this will be included. However, if you arrive independently guides will be waiting at the entrance. They could charge between 40-80 JD (total, so it is better value if there are more people in your party) although you might be able to negotiate.

We had an excellent guide who was very knowledgeable but we were frustrated that he was a bit too keen for us to buy souvenirs from vendors in the area.

Hadrian’s Arch?

The first structure you see when entering the site is the magnificent Arch of Hadrian, who had already started construction of the wall in the north of England, when he visited the area. This triumphal arch was erected around 129-130 AD and was built in honour of his visit. It is an impressive 13m tall.

The hippodrome is an enormous arena that was once used for chariot races and gladiator fights. Sometimes chariot races are re-enacted in the space. Sadly, not when we visited.

The colonnaded forum was an area designed as a marketplace but was also used for social gatherings. Important political meetings would have been held here as well. Its oval shape is very unusual as most Roman forums were rectangular.

A Walk Along The Cardo

The roman street, also known as the Cardo, is 800m long and as straight as Roman roads are reputed to be. It is lined with columns. The road’s surface is original. If you look closely you might even be able to see the grooves of chariot wheels in some of the paving stones.

The Nymphaeum, a monument to the nymphs, served as the city’s primary fountain. The refined building would have had a domed roof. Fed by an aqueduct, the water would have cascaded into the central pool.

Amphitheatres and Artemis

There are two amphitheatres. The southern one is still used for performances during local festivals. The north amphitheatre is incredibly well preserved. You can stand on the stage and let your inner thespian out. Even if you don’t feel up to a full performance of your favourite monologue or soliloquy, it’s worth standing on the stage and just speaking.

The acoustic design of the theatre ensures that your voice can be heard with remarkable clarity, even at normal speech levels.

The Temple of Artemis was dedicated, as its name suggests, to the daughter of Zeus and goddess of the hunt, nature and fertility. The temple is elevated, built upon a hill, with eleven of its twelve original columns remaining. In its day it would have been completely clad in marble, a tribute to the patron of the city. But sadly, over the years, the marble would have been taken away for other construction projects in the area.