Overview

Umm Qais, previously known as Gadara, is one of the most brilliant ancient Greco-Roman cities of the Decapolis. It is the town situated 110 km north of Amman on a broad promontory 378 meters above sea level with a magnificent view over the Yarmouk River, the Golan Heights, and Lake Tiberias. According to the Bible, Umm Qais is the spot where Jesus cast out the Devil from two demoniacs (mad men) into a herd of pigs (Matthew 8: 28-34). 

Gadara was blessed with fertile soil, plentiful rainwater, and a location astride a number of key trading routes connecting Asia and Europe. It was also famous for its cosmopolitan atmosphere that used to attract writers, artists and poets and served as a resort for Romans spending their vacations in the nearby Al Himma hot springs. 

The city reached its peak of prosperity in the 2nd century AD. New colonnaded streets, temples, theaters and baths sprouted. Meleagros compared Gadara with Athens, which testifies to the city's status as a creative center of Hellenism (ancient Greek culture) in the ancient Near East. 

Umm Qais's charm still remains up to this day. A hefty portion of the western Roman Theater has survived history's upheavals. Vaulted passageway supports its rows of seats, built of hard basalt. The remains of different ruins, other theaters and churches can still be seen in the city.