Umm Qais, Archaeological site in Irbid Governorate, Jordan.
Umm Qais is an ancient hilltop settlement in Jordan built with black basalt stone, featuring a colonnaded street, two theaters, and a museum. The site displays remains from different periods, from Hellenistic to Christian times, including statues, mosaics, and ceramics.
The settlement was founded in the 3rd century BC by Macedonian Greeks as a military colony and later became known as Gadara. It became part of the Roman Decapolis following Pompey's conquest.
The settlement was known for its rhetoric school where poets and philosophers taught and studied. This tradition made it an important center for learning and intellectual exchange in the ancient world.
The site has a visitor center at the main area with exhibits covering different historical periods. The elevated terrain can be explored on foot, but sturdy shoes and shade are helpful for comfortable walking.
From its elevated position, visitors can see the Sea of Galilee, the Syrian Golan Heights, Mount Hermon, and northern Palestinian plains. This view reveals the strategic location the place held in the ancient world.
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