Dating from the 2nd century, this grand, well-preserved relic of the Roman era is one of the city’s must-see historic sites.
Visit Jerash and you are sure to spend much of your time exploring the remains of the ancient Roman city that once stood here. Many of the structures in this sprawling archaeological site are extremely impressive, but Hadrian’s Arch really is among the most special. Not only is it in excellent condition for an arch that has stood for almost 2,000 years, it’s also enormous and is therefore one of the more prominent features of the site.
The Roman Empire took control of the area now known as Jerash in the 1st century B.C. At the time it was known as Gerasa, and the town became a major economic force under Alexander the Great’s Rule. Look up at the arch, which was built in order to mark a visit Emperor Hadrian made to the city. The spectacular arch was originally intended to be an entryway to Gerasa, located some distance to the south of the town’s other buildings.
Try to picture how overwhelming the arch would have once been. As vast as it is now, it was built to be even larger. It is thought that it was originally around 72 feet (23 meters) high.
In its complete form, the arch likely had massive wooden doors to keep out intruders. See it nowadays and it is still impressive, however, even without its doors and extra height. It now stands around 32 feet (10 meters) high.
Look for the many fine details that have remained on the arch throughout the centuries. These include carved capitals surrounded by decorative carved acanthus leaves.
Find Hadrian’s Arch close to the entrance to Jerash Archaeological Site. Pay the admission fee and you will also be able to visit all the other incredible Roman ruins around the arch, including the Hippodrome, the Temple of Artemis and the Nymphaeum. The fee also includes entrance to the fascinating Jerash Archaeological Museum.
