The Ionic ring
Columns all round the plaza.
Hisham Mansour Zayadnh — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Carole Raddato from Frankfurt, Germany — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Nina Hugo — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Jean Housen — CC BY 3.0 · xorge — CC BY-SA 2.0
Jerash's most famous view: a broad egg-shaped plaza about 90 metres long, ringed by an unbroken line of Ionic columns and paved with stone slabs laid in rings that follow its curve. It was built in the 1st century AD to link the Temple of Zeus on the hill with the city's main street, and its oval shape elegantly solved the awkward angle between them. From its north end the colonnaded street, the Cardo, runs about 800 metres to the North Gate; its original paving still carries clear ruts worn by chariot wheels, with drains beneath the slabs. Rows of columns and shopfronts line both sides, broken by great four-arched crossings. A single column stands in the centre of the plaza, and visitors climb the southern hill to see the whole oval from above, the city's best-known picture. In July concerts of the Jerash Festival are held here and in the theatres. Walking the full length of the Cardo and back takes at least an hour, and from it paths branch off to the Temple of Artemis and the Nymphaeum.
Columns all round the plaza.
In the Cardo's original paving.
The whole oval from above.
Heart of ancient Jerash, past the South Gate
South Theatre (Jerash)Jerash's largest and finest theatre, built in the late 1st century AD under Empe2 minutes walk
Nymphaeum (Jerash)Jerash's largest public fountain, dedicated to the nymphs in 191 AD. It rises on4 minutes walk
JerashOne of the most complete Roman cities surviving outside Italy, and the thing tha5 minutes walk4.7
Temple of Artemis (Jerash)The temple of Artemis, patron goddess of Gerasa, built in the mid-2nd century AD6 minutes walk
Arch of Hadrian (Jerash)A huge Roman triumphal gateway with three arches, raised by the people of Gerasa7 minutes walkTo join the Temple of Zeus to the main street, which meets it at a slant; the oval shape was an elegant answer to that angle.
About 800 metres each way, so at least an hour there and back with stops.