Jerash – The Gateway to Jordan Beyond Petra & the Dead Sea

After landing in Amman, the first city I chose to visit wasn’t Petra or the Dead Sea, but Jerash, an ancient Roman city located about 50 kilometers north of the capital. Jerash is one of the key cities of the Decapolis—a network of ten cities established by the Romans in the Middle East around the 1st century BCE as centers of trade and culture. With its 800-meter-long Roman colonnaded street, two theaters, and multiple temples, the city has earned the nickname “Pompeii of the Middle East” for its well-preserved traces of daily life and architecture. Driving north from Amman takes just over an hour. The road winds through golden hills interspersed with small villages, where sandstone buildings are layered along the slopes. The morning air is dry and crisp, like the opening scene of a documentary gradually introducing a new landscape. Upon reaching the ancient city, Hadrian’s Arch stands tall as a welcoming symbol. Built in the 2nd century CE to honor Emperor Hadrian’s visit, the towering stone columns contrast against the pale blue sky, making it feel as though you’ve stepped into a historical scene that remains unfinished. In the silence of the vast area, the sound of wind passing through the archways and the partially collapsed columns tells the story of an empire that once flourished but was only a fleeting moment in the long stretch of time. If one were to define it, Jerash is not merely an “ancient city.” It is a living record, open to be read with every step you take. The journey from the airport to Amman takes about 40 minutes, and from Amman, it’s another hour north to Jerash, making the total travel time roughly an hour and a half. The initial drive is filled with the bustling rhythm of the city, but soon the scenery shifts to the serene openness of the countryside. The dry wind brushing against the windows feels like an invitation to another world.