Umm Qais

Introducing Umm Qais

And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” Now a herd of many swine was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged him, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine”. And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the swine; and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and perished in the waters.

Matthew 8:28-32

In the northwest corner of Jordan are the ruins of another ancient town, Gadara (now called Umm Qais). The ruins are less visually impressive than at Jerash but in recompense you'll probably have the luxury of having the site to yourself. The ruins are interesting because of the juxtaposition of the ruined Roman city and a relatively intact Ottoman-era village. The site also offers awesome views over the Golan Heights (Murtafa-at al-Jawlan) in Syria and the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberias) in Israel & the Palestinian Territories to the north, and the Jordan Valley to the south.

According to the Bible, it was at Gadara that Jesus cast demons out of two men into a herd of pigs, and the site was an early Christian place of pilgrimage, although an alternative Israeli site on the eastern shore of Lake Galilee also claims this miracle.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009