Gadara — Umm Qais
Hellenistic to Ottoman (300 BCE–1600 CE)·Hellenistic / Roman Decapolis (Menippos poet)·🇯🇴 Yarmuk Gorge, Jordan
About
About Gadara — Umm Qais
Gadara — Umm Qais in Yarmuk Gorge, Jordan is a Hellenistic to Ottoman (300 BCE–1600 CE) ancient-city attributed to Hellenistic / Roman Decapolis (Menippos poet). Black basalt Decapolis city overlooking Sea of Galilee and Yarmuk gorge with twin theatres and cardo. Western theatre 3000 seats, cardo colonnade, nymphaeum and mausolea.
Why it mattersKey Levantine tell with multi-period stratigraphy informing chronology of the Yarmuk Gorge
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Stratigraphic sequence
- 02Biblical identification debated
Theories
- 01Border fortress model
- 02Trade route control
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 300 BCE
- Period
- Hellenistic to Ottoman (300 BCE–1600 CE)
- Culture
- Hellenistic / Roman Decapolis (Menippos poet)
- Purpose
- Black basalt Decapolis city overlooking Sea of Galilee and Yarmuk gorge with twin theatres and cardo
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 300 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1925 CE
Woolley/Petrie survey
On the ground
Structures & features
32.6530° N · 35.6850° E · 380 m · 4 mapped features
Gadara — Umm Qais — Decapolis Theatre / Agora
theatreRoman theatre or agora
32.6532° N · 35.6851° EGadara — Umm Qais — Temple Precinct
templeSanctuary area
32.6528° N · 35.6852° EGadara — Umm Qais — City Wall Gate
gateCity gate and wall circuit
32.6534° N · 35.6848° EGadara — Umm Qais — Reservoir / Cistern
cisternWater storage feature
32.6526° N · 35.6849° E