The south decumanus at Jerash once served as the Roman town's main east–west axis. At the eastern end is the modern mosque. Take the left fork from the street's western end up to what might be termed ‘Church Hill’, where a number of ancient churches lie in ruins. The path that runs between the South Theatre and the Temple of Artemis offers a good vantage point of the south decumanus' double colonnade stretching to the south.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Citadel
22.58 MILES
The area known as the Citadel sits on the highest hill in Amman, Jebel Al Qala’a (about 850m above sea level), and is the site of ancient Rabbath-Ammon…
Beit She’an National Park
27.46 MILES
Beit She’an’s extraordinary Roman ruins are the best place in Israel to get a sense of what it was like to live, work and shop in the Roman Empire…
Darat Al Funun
22.55 MILES
On the hillside to the north of the downtown area, this cultural haven is dedicated to contemporary art. The main building features an excellent art…
Royal Automobile Museum
20.78 MILES
You really don't have to be a car enthusiast to enjoy this museum, which displays more than 70 classic cars and motorbikes from the personal collection of…
Jordan Museum
23.08 MILES
The Jordan Museum, located next to the City Hall, is one of the best in the Middle East. Housed in a grand modern building, a series of beautifully…
Ajloun Castle
10.08 MILES
This historic castle was built atop Mt ‘Auf (1250m) between 1184 and 1188 by one of Saladin’s generals, ‘Izz ad Din Usama bin Munqidh (who was also…
Temple of Artemis
0.15 MILES
Dedicated to Artemis, the goddess of hunting and fertility and the daughter of Zeus and Leto, this temple was built between AD 150 and 170, and flanked by…
Qasr Al Abad
26.6 MILES
The small but impressive Qasr Al Abad, west of Amman, is one of the very few examples of pre-Roman construction in Jordan. Mystery surrounds the palace,…
Nearby Jerash attractions
1. Umayyad Houses
0.04 MILES
The unassuming walls of these buildings don't look especially noteworthy, but they're interesting for adding another level of historical accretion in…
2. Roman Ruins of Jerash
0.04 MILES
The ruined city of Jerash is Jordan's largest and most interesting Roman site, and a major tourist drawcard. Its imposing ceremonial gates, colonnaded…
3. Southern Tetrapylon
0.05 MILES
Marking the intersection of the cardo maximus with the south decumanus, this four-pillared structure is in good repair.
4. Agora
0.05 MILES
On the western side of the cardo maximus is the agora, where people gathered for public meetings around the central fountain.
5. Cardo Maximus
0.06 MILES
Jerash’s superb colonnaded cardo maximus is straight in the way that only a Roman road can be. This is one of Jerash’s great highlights, and the walk…
6. Cathedral
0.08 MILES
South of the nymphaeum, an elaborate staircase rises from the cardo maximus to Jerash's only cathedral. Little more than a modest Byzantine church, it was…
7. Church of St Theodore
0.08 MILES
Little remains of this church apart from the twin colonnades (picturesquely overgrown with wildflowers in spring) and the apse, which overlooks the…
8. Courtyard of the Fountain
0.11 MILES
This ancient fountain was once fed by a local reservoir. When it was dedicated to Dionysus, it was alleged that the god would turn its water into wine,…