Tomb of Modestus

Umm Qais


The thick stone doors of this Roman tomb outside the main archaeological area still swing on ancient hinges. Nearby are the less notable tombs of Germani and Chaireas.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Umm Qais attractions

1. Ottoman Mosque

0.11 MILES

This small mosque, no longer consecrated, is at the heart of the old Ottoman village of Umm Qais.

2. Ottoman Village

0.13 MILES

Surrounding the museum are the comprehensive ruins of an Ottoman village dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. Two houses, Beit Malkawi (now used as an…

3. North Theatre

0.14 MILES

The North Theatre is overgrown and missing much of its original black-basalt stones, which were recycled by villagers in other constructions, but it's…

4. Museum

0.15 MILES

Housed in Beit Russan, the former residence of an Ottoman governor, this modest museum is set around an elegant and tranquil courtyard of fig trees. The…

5. Gadara

0.16 MILES

In the northwestern corner of Jordan, in the hills above the Jordan Valley, are the ruins of the Decapolis city of Gadara (now called Umm Qais). The site…

6. West Theatre

0.21 MILES

Entering Umm Qais from the south, the first structure of interest is the well-restored and brooding West Theatre. Constructed from black basalt, it once…

7. Basilica Terrace

0.24 MILES

A bit of imagination is needed to reconstruct the colonnaded courtyard of the Basilica Terrace, the western section of which housed a row of shops. The…

8. Shops

0.27 MILES

The shells of a row of shops remain in the western section of what was once the colonnaded courtyard of the Basilica Terrace.