Roman Oil Lamp

Karak, Jordan

A small museum displays various objects found in the vicinity, including this bronze Roman oil lamp. Usually described as a duck, the shape of the beak and length of the neck seem more like a swan. Two small children, one on either side, are folded within the bird's wing. Of each child, only the head and one arm are visible. The lamp depicts Castor and Pollux (or perhaps, Helen and Pollux), whose father, Zeus, took the form of a swan to impregnate their mother Leda.

Barracks ("Later Castellum")

Umm al-Jimal, Jordan

 

The provincial town of Umm al-Jimal, 50km northeast of Amman, was garrisoned by Roman soldiers from about 200 AD onward. This triggered an expansion of trade and commerce, until by 500 AD the town could boast a population of three or four thousand people. The precincts were gradually abandoned following the 7th century Arab conquest and 8th century earthquakes, although they were briefly re-occupied by the French Army in the 1920s, and by the Druze in the 1930s.

This view from the east shows the Roman fort, dated 412/413, that was built in the south end of town (not to be confused with an earlier castellum in the northeast part of town). The fort was constructed, like the rest of the town, from the abundant local stone of black basalt. It consists of a wall surrounding an inner courtyard (the barracks rooms were built on the inside of the wall), and two later Byzantine towers that were added around 600 AD. The first tower is seen to the left in this photo.

Hadrian's Arch, Jerash

The present state of Hadrian's Arch (2005) is difficult to appreciate, as it undergoes reconstruction beneath the scaffolding that is seen here from the north.

Hippodrome, Jerash

The Hippodrome of Jerash, constructed in the second century AD, is only half the length of Rome's Circus Maximus. Nevertheless, it must have provided considerable entertainment to the citizens; chariot races were the ultimate sport of the later Roman Empire. The view here looks south, from the top of the arena's great hairpin arch down to its starting point, 245m (800 ft) below.

South Theatre, Jerash

This view of the South Theatre shows the east half of its cavea, with parados (photo left) leading onto the orchestra and vomitoria exiting upon the diazoma.

South Theatre, Jerash

Returning to the south end of the site, this photo looks north from the cavea of the South Theatre to the classical three entrances of its Scenae Frons. The use of these entrances will be familiar even to modern-day audiences who have seen the popular Broadway musical, "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum," which was loosely based on the Old Roman comedy of Plautus. Jerash's South Theatre was built during the reign of Domitian, c. 90 AD, and held over 3,000 spectators.

Floor Mosaic

Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, Jerash

A complex and pleasing design of diamonds overlaid upon squares includes volumetric swastikas, donor inscriptions (photo left), depictions of birds, sheep, and ungulates, and donor portraits (photo left, carrying basket).

Stork and Hound Mosaic

Original location: Jordan, Church of St. John the Baptist, Jerash, 529 A.D.

Current location (2005): Jordanian Museum of Popular Tradition, Roman Theatre, Amman

This fragment is from the southeast exedra of the church. Acanthus leaves and buds encircle the stork (upper right) and hound (lower left), interspersed with motifs of small swastikas.

North Tetrapylon

The north tetrapylon marks the intersection of the Cardo and North Decumanus. It is seen here from the west, in the vicinity of the North Theatre. The interior vaulting of this structure is a dome, rather than the intersection of two barrel vaults as one might expect.

Reserved Seating

South Theatre, Jerash

Reserved seats in the theatre were simply marked with Greek letters; compare the reserved seats in the North Theatre.

Reserved Seating

North Theatre, Jerash

This orchestra seat, on the northwest side of the theatre, is reserved by inscription for Hera ('Eras, in Greek); that is to say, for a priest of that goddess. Other seats in the orchestra are similarly reserved for other temples and phylai (voting divisions). Seating in the larger South Theatre was also reserved, under a different scheme.

East Parados

North Theatre, Jerash

The paradoi of a theater provide side access to the stage and orchestra, as seen here.

North Theatre, Jerash

This intimate theater (odeon, seating 800) is oriented to the northeast, which is the view in this photo. It was originally built during the reign of Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD) as the city's council chamber, and later enlarged. Seating was allocated by political and religious castes (phylai), as shown on the following pages.

Temple of Artemis

This is a view from the south, in which several columns of the temple have been re-erected in front of the cella.

North Propylaeum

Temple of Artemis, Jerash

The monumental entrance to Jerash's Temple of Artemis is flanked by two magnificent gateways, of which the right (north) is seen here. Her temple was built in the mid-second century AD, at the height of Jerash's prosperity. Artemis was the tutelary deity (Tyche) of Gerasa, which is to say, the chief guardian and protector of the city.

Pedimental Decoration

Nymphaeum, Jerash

A fine vegetal motif decorates the pediment of Jerash's Nymphaeum, testifying to the very high level of craftsmanship that existed in Jerash at that time.

Nymphaeum, Jerash

The Nymphaeum (a public fountain) of Jerash was built towards the end of the second century AD, when the city (and indeed the entire Roman Empire, according to Gibbon) was "most prosperous and happy" under the Antonines. In the foreground is a circular basin that received waters from the fountain, which were conducted through pipes whose outlets are visible in the background (center of the lower course) of this photo.

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Italiano.

Ninfeo - Jerash, Giordania

Il Ninfeo (una fontana pubblica) di Jerash è stata costruita verso la fine del II secolo dC, quando la città (e in effetti l'intero Impero Romano, secondo Gibbon) è stato "più prospera e felice" sotto gli Antonini. In primo piano è una vasca circolare che ha ricevuto le acque della fontana, che sono stati condotti attraverso i tubi le cui uscite sono visibili sullo sfondo (centro del corso inferiore) di questa foto.

Exedra

Cathedral, Jerash

The fourth century "Cathedral" of Jerash is located west of the Cardo, just before the much larger temple of Artemis (those early Christians must have suffered from a serious case of temple envy). Shown here is the exedra, or "bishop's seat," whose iconography includes the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, surmounted by a scallop design that has deep roots in pagan antiquity.

South Decumanus, Jerash

Looking west down the South Decumanus, from the South Tetrapylon. This is one of two cardinal intersections in Jerash; the other is the North Decumanus, intersecting with the North Tetrapylon.

Inscribed Pedestal

Macellum, Jerash

This modified object is inscribed for Tiberius Alexandros, governor of the province in 130 AD. The pedestal most likely supported a statue of the governor, who paid for the construction of the marketplace. Drilled straight through the base is an opening for a lead pipe, which would have conducted water to the fountain seen on the previous page.