Inverted capitals
Acanthus leaves at the column bases.
Petar Milošević — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hisham Mansour Zayadnh — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tarawneh — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Tarawneh — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Tarawneh — CC BY-SA 3.0
A huge Roman triumphal gateway with three arches, raised by the people of Gerasa in 129–130 AD to honour Emperor Hadrian's visit to their city, and the first monument visitors meet in Jerash today. Its engaged columns carry carved acanthus leaves at their base rather than at the top, an unusual touch, and above the side arches are small windows in decorated frames. The arch was built well outside the city wall of the day, because Gerasa planned to grow south until it became the new city gate, but the expansion was never finished. Much of it fell over the centuries; its upper storey was rebuilt early this century from the original stones, bringing it back close to its first height. Beside the arch lies the Roman hippodrome, about 245 metres long, which held some fifteen thousand spectators for chariot races; it was one of the smallest in the empire but is among the best preserved today. From the arch the road runs north to the South Gate and the Oval Plaza, so it is the natural place to begin, taking time over the carving before entering the city.
Acanthus leaves at the column bases.
The chariot-racing track next door.
A gateway for an emperor's stay.
Southern entrance to ancient Jerash
South Theatre (Jerash)Jerash's largest and finest theatre, built in the late 1st century AD under Empe7 minutes walk
Oval Plaza and Colonnaded Street (Jerash)Jerash's most famous view: a broad egg-shaped plaza about 90 metres long, ringed7 minutes walk
Nymphaeum (Jerash)Jerash's largest public fountain, dedicated to the nymphs in 191 AD. It rises on12 minutes walk
JerashOne of the most complete Roman cities surviving outside Italy, and the thing tha12 minutes walk4.7
Temple of Artemis (Jerash)The temple of Artemis, patron goddess of Gerasa, built in the mid-2nd century AD13 minutes walkGerasa planned to grow south so that the arch would become its new gate; the expansion was never finished, so the arch stands alone outside the wall.
Yes. It is part of the Jerash site beside the arch, and the Jerash ticket covers the whole site.