3.4. The Cities of Dekapolis

The Dekapolis was an association of at least ten Greco-Roman cities that flourished along the ancient trade routes that passed through Jordan. Five of them are now located in Jordan area. The most impressive one is without any doubt Gerasa, today Jerash. In addition to Jerash you can visit remarkable Roman remains in Amman, Umm El-Jimal, Umm Qeis and Tabaqat Fahil.

Pella (Tabaqat Fahil): Nestled in the lush and tropical foot-hills of the Jordan Valley is the city of Pella, warm and welcoming throughout the year. Excavations have revealed at least three thousand years of human activity at Pella, from the Old Testament days to the medieval Islamic era.
Pella was already an important city in the 19th century BC and came under Greek influence in the 3rd and 4th century BC .The Romans made Pella member of the Dekapolis in the 2nd century AD. In the 5th and 6th century AD it became a Christian centre and stayed important in the times of Islam. In the year 746 BC an earthquake destroyed Pella.
Excavations are still taking place and visitors today can admire its Roman theatre, Byzantine churches, Islamic mosque and housing quarters and other remains scattered amongst gently rolling green hills watered by a perennial stream.

Gadara (Umm Qeis) and Abila: Umm Qeis, the New Testament's Gadara, scene of the miracle of the Gadarene swines, was renowned in its time as a cultural centre. Gadara was first mentioned in the 3rd century BC and most of the buildings are dating from the 2nd century BC There are archaeological remains such as an impressive colonnaded terrace and the ruins of three theatres. In 1991 a restaurant built in this antique site was opened where one may dine on the terrace with a breathtaking view of three countries. Most interesting about it is the magnificent view across the Sea of Galilee and Golan Heights to the north and down the Jordan valley to the south.
To north-east of Gadara lies ancient Abila, more rural than Jerash and Umm Qeis, where Roman temples, Byzantine churches and early mosaics lie amidst olive groves and wheat fields. Excavations indicate that the site was inhabited 5,000 years ago in the Early Bronze Age, and appears to have been continually used by man since then.

Philadelphia (Amman): Excavations on the northern border of the city, in Ain Ghazal, brought settlements of artfully built houses from the time of 7000 - 4000 BC to daylight. Tombs were found that prove that people lived in Amman in the Bronze Age (3200 - 1500 BC) as well. During the Iron Age (1200 - 1500 BC) Amman had been the capital of the Kingdom of the Ammonites, named "Rabbath Ammon". In the 3rd century BC it was called Philadelphia. Before the Roman invasion Amman belonged to the Nabatean Kingdom and at Roman times it was the most important city of the Dekapolis. The Citadel , the Roman Theatre and the regal columns of a Roman temple are witnesses of these times. On Amman's citadel hill the elegant capitals of a Byzantine church and the inventive carvings of the Umayyad Palace tell further stories of the past.

Gerasa (Jerash): There were settlements at the site of Jerash long before it became a major city. Found tools prove that Neolithic man lived here at around 6,000 BC and later Bronze Age and Iron Age villages were constructed. It's emergence as a major city took place in the second century BC, when is was founded by the Romans and became one of the cities of the Dekapolis. Jerash still is a complete Greco-Roman city with three finely carved stone theatres, monumental places, two major hilltop temples, a hippodrome, public fountains, city walls and gates, and colonnaded streets. From the centuries after Rome, Jerash retains a dozen Byzantine churches with their original floor mosaic and some early Islamic buildings.
Only 40 minutes by car from Amman, this best preserved Roman town in the Middle East should not be missed.
In July the Jerash Festival takes place, an international cultural event celebrating Jordanian Hand Crafts and the Performing Arts.

Umm el-Jimal: At the eastern margins of the Dekapolis (but not being a member of it) lies Umm el-Jimal, "Black gem of the desert", a city built of black basalt. It was settled by the Nabateans, the Romans, the Byzantines and the Umayyads. It was destroyed by an earthquake in the 8th century AD and now is an interesting archaeological site with some of it's lovely black basalt mansions and towers still standing.

 

Contents of the Guide Book

1. Welcome to Jordan
2.. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
2.1. Geography, Climate and Borders
2.2. Entry and Departure Procedures
2.3 Population
2.4. Currency
2.5. History

2.6.

 Government
2.7. Economy
3. Jordan, where the Adventure awaits you
3.2 Amman, the Dynamic Capital City
3.2. The Kings´Highway
(Madaba, Mt. Nebo, Mukawir, Wadi Mujib, Karak, Shobak)
3.3. Petra, the Spectacular Rose-Red City
3.4. The Cities of Decapolis (Pella, Gadara, Abila, Philadelphia, Gerasa, Umm el Jimal)

3.5..

Following the Footsteps of "Lawrence of Arabia";
(Desert Castles: Azraq, Amra, Kharanah; Wadi Rum)
3.6. Aqaba, Jordan´s year-round Red Sea Resort
3.7. The Dead Sea and Termal Spas; The healing power of the Dead Sea; The Hot Springs of Zarqa Ma´in
3.8. Biblical Sites in Jordan
3.8.1. The Biblical Sites from North to South;
Gadara, Anjara, Pella, Bethany, Machaerus, Madaba, Mt. Nebo, the Kings´Highway, Wadi Musa, Sodom & Gomorra, Ayla
3.9. Nature Reserves in Jordan; Wadi Rum, Dana, Zubia, Azraq, Shaumari
4. The Tourist Facilities in Jordan
4.1. Transportation;
Flight Connections, Tourist Buses, Bus-, Train-, Ferry-Connections; Car Rental and Driving in Jordan
4.2. Communication
4.3. Sports;
Aquatic Sports and Diving; Horseback Riding and Camel Trips; Ballooning; Glimbing and Hang-gliding
4.4. Culture and Entertainment; Museums and Galleries; Festivals; Other Entertainments
4.5. Restaurants
4.6. Shopping and Souvenirs
4.7. Tourist Guides
4.8.

Accommodation;
Hotels in Amman, Petra, Aqaba, Spa-Hotels, Other Hotels, Camping
5. Incentive Travel
5.1. Incentive Special Events
6. Helpful Facts about Jordan
6.1. Best Time to Travel and Safty
6.2. Tipping (Bakshish)
6.3. Holidays, Ramadan, Business Hours
6.4. Local Customs - How to Dress?
6.5. Electric Current, Water Supply