walls. 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. Small settlements continued in Jerash during the Ayyubid, Mameluk and Ottoman periods. Excavation and restoration of Jerash has been almost continuous since the 1920s.
Ancient Jerash
Remains in the Greco-Roman Jerash include:
* The Corinthium column
* Hadrian's Arch
* The circus/hippodrome
* The two large temples (dedicated to Zeus and Artemis)
* The nearly unique oval Forum, which is surrounded by a fine colonnade,
* The long colonnaded street or cardo
* Two theatres (the Large South Theatre and smaller North Theatre)
* Two baths, and a scattering of small temples
* An almost complete circuit of city walls.
Most of these monuments were built by donations of the city's wealthy citizens. From AD 350, a large Christian community lived in Jerash, and between AD 400-600, more than thirteen churches were built, many with superb mosaic floors. A cathedral was built in the fourth century. An ancient synagogue with detailed mosaics, including the story of Noah, was found beneath a church.
Modern Jerash
The oval Forum
Jerash has developed dramatically in the last century and the growing importance of the tourism industry to the city. Jerash is now the second-most popular tourist attraction in Jordan, closely behind the splendid ruins of Petra. The ruins have been carefully preserved and spared from encroachment, with the modern city sprawling to the west of ancient
