There are many Roman vestiges in Jordan, as this great empire, the largest of its time, came to extend to this territory, which became the eastern end of it. If you are interested in everything related to the Roman Empire and you like to visit monuments and archaeological sites related to it, read this post because we tell you what you can find in Jordan about that fascinating period.
Vestiges in the cities of the Decapolis
The name of Decapolis is known as a group of 10 cities that had certain cultural similarities and that underwent a progressive process of Romanization, forming a kind of league although without becoming a unitary political entity. In successive territorial reorganizations of the Roman Empire, they were divided between the provinces of Syria and Stony Arabia, mainly.
Of those 10 cities, many of them are in what is now Jordan. And some have bequeathed us great monuments or even urban complexes in good conditions of conservation, which helps the study of their societies.
Without going any further, the capital Amman is a good example. In Roman times, this city was called Philadelphia and important infrastructures such as its magnificent Roman Theatre, which can be visited today, or the Temple of Hercules were built here. Today they are great attractions for those who move around the city.
No less important was Gándara, the Roman name for the current city of um Qais.
um. Today you can see important remains standing, such as its great theatre, its Nymphaeum or its Decumanus Maximus, one of the great axes of that city. Both um Qais and Jerash are part of the UNESCO Tentative List to be declared World Heritage Sites.
But without a doubt, the great jewel of the Roman world in Jordan is Jerash, formerly known as Gerasa. It is the city that is best preserved and is part of the great circuits around the country, as it is a real tourist attraction. Its state of conservation is enviable, to the point that it is nicknamed ‘the Pompeii of Jordan’. This city was visited by the ‘traveling emperor’, Hadrian, which is why Hadrian’s Arch was built.
In the archaeological site of Jerash there are places as fascinating as the hippodrome (where equestrian demonstrations and other events are still held), the Oval Square, its theaters (north and south) or the columned Cardus Maximus street. In addition, Jerash organizes cultural festivals that have a clear inspiration from the Roman world.
Other Roman Remains in Jordan
In addition to the cities that were part of the Decapolis, it is possible to trace other Roman vestiges in Jordan, for example in cities that later fell under the influence of this empire, either through direct rule or trade agreements.
Of all of them, the most important place is Petra: although it was the capital of the Nabataean empire, reaching its zenith in the first century B.C., in the following century it was annexed to the Roman Empire, although it received a certain autonomy from it. In any case, important changes took place in Petra, as can be seen in the Way of the Columns or in the Nymphaeum.
Aqaba is also another of the cities that came under Roman rule: in the first century they adapted and used the existing port here to turn it into an important commercial gateway to the region. Today, in the Archaeological Museum of Aqaba you can see some pieces from that period, such as a signpost of the Via Trajana Nova, which ran through the province of Arabia Piedra.
In addition, the site of Um er-Rasas can also be mentioned because, although its main vestiges date back to later periods (up to the ninth century), it emerged as a Roman camp and is declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
