Irbid

> The amphitheater at Umm Qays.

Jordan's second largest city is a bustling community with a large university. Though not an important city for sightseeing, Irbid houses two very worthwhile museums, and forms a good base from which to explore the northern Jordan Valley or to start a trip to Syria. In addition to Jarash and Amman, Umm Qays (modern Gadara) and Pella (known locally as Tabaqit Fahl) were once Decapolis cities, and each has unique appeal. Umm Qays Graeco-Roman columns stand amidst the lush green countryside around Umm Qays. Site of the famous miracle of the Gadarene swine, Gadara was renowned in its time as a cultural centre. It was the home of several classical poets and philosophers, including Theodorus, founder of a rhetorical school in Rome; one poet called the city "a new Athens". Perched on a splendid hilltop overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Sea of Galilee, Gadara is today known as Umm Qays and boasts an impressive colonnaded streets, vaulted terrace and the ruins of two theatres. You can take in the sights and then dine on the terrace of a fine restaurant with a breathtaking view of three countries. The Al-Himma therapeutic hot springs are located around 10 km north of Umm Qays and were once highly regarded by the Romans. There are two bathing facilities: a privately run complex, and a public bath complex, with separate timetables for men and women. Pella (Tabaqit Fahl) Ruins at Pella. History & Culture In Umm Qays: the main sights are the remains of the Roman city, with its Western Theatre, colonnaded street, mausoleum and baths. In Pella there are many interesting archaeological monuments, many of them still under excavation. Important are the 6th century West Church, 6th century Civic Complex Church, 1st century Odeon (Theatre), Roman Nyphaeum and East Church. Museums Irbid Archaeological Museum The Irbid Archaeological Museum was established in the early sixties, along with Irbid Antiquities Office. It was originally composed of one exhibition hall on the slope of Tell Irbid. Due to the vast increase in the numbers of archaeological artefacts from the excavations in the Irbid District, the museum was moved to a new building, in the southern part of the city, in 1984. The collections of the museum are composed of various artefacts from the excavations of the Department of Antiquities and the international archaeological mission, ranging in date from the Palaeolithic up to the Islamic periods. Presently, the area of the museum is again too small for the display of the finds from the northern sector of the country. The Department of Antiquities is aiming at renovating the Ottoman Seray at Irbid (known as the “old prison”) and converting it into the museum of the future. This building, on Tell Irbid, is one of the oldest buildings in the city. After renovation it will house an archaeological museum, an ethnographic exhibition, an archaeological library, laboratories and store in addition to the headquarters of the Irbid Antiquities office. Tel : + 962 2 7275817 Umm Qays Archaeological Museum The museum, which is located in one of the houses in the Ottoman village of Umm Qays, composed of two exhibition halls. In the first hall, various ceramics dating from the Hellenistic up to the Islamic periods are on display, along with finds from the tombs at Umm Qays. The second hall is dedicated to statuary, mostly from the Roman period. Into the large courtyard, basalt sarcophagi, column capitals and bases, two basalt gates, mosaics and the famous seated Tyche were moved from the site . Umm Qays (Gadara) was one of the cities of the Decapolis, planned with a Roman city layout. The Ottoman village on top of part of the ancient city was acquired by the Department of Antiquities who now has several excavation and conservation projects at the site, including the restoration of the main (west) theatre. The location of Umm Qays is particularly significant. Visitors to the site can view the Syrian Golan Heights, Mount Hermon, Lake Tiberias and the north Palestinian plains. Location: Located in Beit Al-Russan (House of Al-Russan) Dar As-Saraya Museum The building of the museum "Dar As – Saraya" was originally a castle built by the Ottomans on the southern side of tell in the middle of the 19th century. Its plan resembles castles and caravansaries founded by the ottomans on the Syrian .. An inscription above the southern gateway is dated with the year 1304 H. (1886 AD) implying that the castle became the new Governor's House (Dar As-Saraya) after that date. With time the structure experienced many changes, prior to restoration works initiated by the department of antiquities in 1994 Dar As-Saraya Museum is a miniature of Jordanian material culture through the ages. For the first time objects are displayed , the significance of which goes far beyond the local and regional level domestic and agricultural tools from Wadi Al – Himmah from the Epi-Palaeolitic period (16 000-8500 Bc ) are some examples of the exhibits. Telephone: + 962 2 7245613 Religion & Faith Biblical Past Although the town of Irbid itself does not hold much evidence of Biblical history, the same cannot be said for surrounding areas to the North and West, in particular, Umm Qays and Pella both have a past that has been mentioned in Biblical texts and the ruins of many Byzantine churches can be found there. Umm Qays The New Testament mentions that Jesus Christ had visited Gadara (Umm Qays) and cured two mad men near it by transferring their evil souls into a herd of pigs which sank into Lake Tiberias, the miracle startled the people of Gadara, so that they met Jesus Christ with an antagonistic attitude, and asked him to return back to Galilee. Christianity hadn't spread quickly among the Gadarenes because of their strong paganism. When Christianity was proclaimed the official religion of the Byzantine Empire, Gadara participated in the ecclesiastical council held in Nicaea in 325 AD, and a five aisled church was built during the same century on top of the Roman underground mausoleum, as evidence to the victory of Christianity over Roman Paganism. It may also have been built to commemorate two Christian Gadarenes who were tortured and martyred in 303 AD during the term of the Roman Emperor Diocletianos. A cave known to the inhabitants of Umm Qays as the cave of Issa (Jesus or Issos), lies to about four kilometres west Umm Qays, the citizens there believe - as their forefathers told before - that Jesus had stayed in this cave while traveling to Umm Qays, in order to release its ancient people from paganism. Pella Religion was a vital part of daily life at Pella and the remains of three churches could be visited today. The first church is the West Church. Three columns in its atrium colonnade were put back in their original places. The East Church sits on a small terrace overlooking Pella. The largest and most important Byzantine church at Pella is the Civic Complex Church. It seems that it was used for Christian worship well into the early Islamic period, but was abandoned after the earthquake. In the Mamluke period, a mosque was built and today its remains can be seen in Pella. Tracing Islam In August 635 AD, in the face of the Muslim expansion, the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius gathered a large army, lead by his brother Theodorus, which fought the Muslim army at the Battle of Yarmouk. This site lies on the banks of the Yarmouk River on the Northern tip of Jordan. The Muslim army was greatly outnumbered but their commander Khalid bin Al-Walid led them to victory. This battle gave the Muslims control of Greater Syria. Mazar Al-Shamali, near Irbid, has a shrine to Prophet David. As a child, he slew Goliath with a sling and later became the second King of Israel after Sha'ul (Saul). Moreover, David was one of the apostles to whom heavenly scriptures were revealed. David spent time in Jordan whilst at odds with Saul, as well as later while on a campaign. The tomb of the venerable companion Abul-Darda is located in a modern building in the village of Soam Al-Shunnaq, near Irbid. One of the most devoted and pious of the companions, he was always by the Prophet’s side. Abul-Darda was best known for surpassing everyone else in memorizing, narrating and transmitting Prophet Mohammad’s sayings. He took part in the military campaigns and was later appointed governor of the Bahrain province. Pella is a favourite of archaeologists as it is exceptionally rich in antiquities, some of which are exceedingly old. Besides the excavated ruins from the Graeco-Roman period, including an Odeon (theatre), Pella offers visitors the opportunity to see the remains of a Chalcolithic settlement from the 4th millennium BC, the remains of Bronze and Iron Age walled cities, Byzantine churches and houses, an Early Islamic residential quarter, and a small medieval mosque.

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