Umm Qais

Description

Umm Qais or Qays  is a town in northern Jordan principally known for its proximity to the ruins of the ancient Gadara, also a former bishopric and present Latin Catholic titular see (former diocese).

It lies in the in the extreme northwest of the country, near Jordan's borders with Israel and Syria. It is perched on a hilltop 378 metres (1,240 ft) above sea level overlooking the Sea of Tiberias.

In ancient times, Umm Qais was strategically situated, laced by a number of key trading routes connecting Syria and Palestine. It was blessed with fertile soil and abundant rainwater. Umm Qais also flourished intellectually in the reign of Augustus and became distinguished for its cosmopolitan atmosphere, university’s scholars, attracting writers, artists, philosophers and poets, the likes of satirist Menippos (2nd half of the 3rd century BC), the epigrammist Meleagros, and the rhetorician Theodoros (15-37 AD). Umm Qais was also the resort of choice for Romans vacationing in the nearby Himmet Gader Springs.

Umm Qais Theatre Archaeological Surveys indicate that Umm Qais (Gadara) was occupied as early as the 7th century BC. The Greek historian, Polybius, described the region as being under Ptolemaic control at the time. The Seleucid ruler Antiochus III conquered it in 218 BC, naming the city Antiochia and Seleucia. In 63 BC, Pompey liberated Umm Qais (Gadara)and joined it to the Roman league of ten cities, the Decapolis.

The city reached its peak of prosperity in the 2nd century AD. New colonnaded streets, temples, theaters and baths sprouted. Meleagros compared Umm Qais (Gadara) with Athens, which testifies to the city’s status as a creative center of Hellenism in the ancient Near East.

Umm Qais‘s charm still lingers today. A large portion of the western Roman Theater has survived history’s upheavals. Vaulted passageway supports its rows of seats, built of hard basalt stones. A row of elaborately carved seats for dignitaries stand near the orchestra, and in the center was a large headless white marble statue of Tyche, goddess of fortune and of the city, now displayed at the local museum.

Across from the theater in Umm Qais, is the main colonnaded street (cardo), which was in all likelihood the town’s commercial center. Also, near the black basalt theater is the Terrace, which hosts a courtyard, a church and a basilica. Further west of the Terrace and along the east-west colonnaded street (decumanus), ruins of the Nymphaeum, a bath complex and a well-preserved Roman Mausoleum can be seen. After a few hundred meters one can barely make out remains of what was once a Hippodrome.

A memorable ending to a visit to Umm Qais and Al-Himma is a meal on the terrace of the guesthouse, enjoying the view and reminiscing about your day.