Jerash is considered one of the most important and best-preserved Roman cities in the Near East and one of the largest and most well-preserved sites of Roman architecture in the world outside Italy. Jerash is located in the north of Jordan, 48 kilometers from Amman city nearby Syria Country.
A major earthquake in 749 AD destroyed large parts of Jerash and its surroundings, while the wars and turmoil contributed to additional destruction. Its destruction and ruins remained buried in the soil for hundreds of years until they were discovered by German Orientalist Ulrich Jasper Seetzen in 1806.
Ancient 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.
Jordan government have developed jerash in the last quarter of the last century with the growing of the tourism industry. Jerash now is considered as the second-most popular tourist attraction in Jordan rose-ree rose red city of petra.
Every year the old city of Jerash hosts the Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts, a summer entertainment program full of dance, music, and theatrical performances, poetry recitals, theatrical performances, concerts, and other forms of art. The festival is frequently attended by members of the royal family of Jordan especially queen Alia and is hailed as one of the largest cultural activities in the region.