English (UK) 
Français (France) 
Nederlands (nl-NL) "Immerse yourself in a journey through time with the wonders of Jerash, the Pompeii of the East. This ancient city, kissed by the sands of time, whispers tales of yesteryears. Marvel at the wonderfully preserved ruins, remnants of the Roman era that narrate the echoes of centuries past. Each grain of sand, a silent testament to a timeless saga. In less than seven minutes, embark on an odyssey through a stone symphony, where each relic unravels a story. Allow the majesty of Jerash to captivate you in this compelling video. From Amman to the ancient Gerasa, escape the present and delve into a world where history becomes poetry."
This film was made on the basis of photos and videos taken during the trip Jordan (EN)
Reading the text below will help you better understand the historical context of the sites shown in this video.
Jerash, Pompeii of the East
About fifty kilometers from Amman, the capital of Jordan, is one of the best-preserved archaeological sites dating from the Greco-Roman period in the region. Covered with a thick layer of sand following a series of earthquakes, this ancient city has escaped the ravages of time. A bit like Pompeii which was paradoxically protected by a layer of murderous lava at the beginning of our era. This is what earned it the nickname Pompeii of the East.
Jerash's history
The old name of Jerash is Gerasa, a city founded at the end of the 4th century BC, probably by Alexander the Great, king of Macedon.
But it was the Romans, after Pompey's conquest of the city, who made it an important city, to the point of being visited by Emperor Hadrian in 129.
Jerash still suffered many invasions, including the Persians who pillaged the city in 614, imitated by the Arabs who did the same in 635.
After the Persians and the Arabs, it was the earthquakes that hit Jerash. Heavily damaged by a deadly earthquake around the year 750, Jerash fell into oblivion for nearly 1,000 years following clashes between the Crusaders and Arabs for sovereignty over Jerusalem.
Important excavations made it possible to clear the site around the middle of the 20th century.
Jerash is in an excellent state of conservation, and the restoration program has rebuilt some of the buildings. The oval forum, which was among the largest in Roman times, served as a public square, agora and market at the same time. These columns are perfectly preserved and today there are still regular shows that are given in this place.
Other places of interest include the temples of Zeus and that of Artemis as well as the hippodrome which was quickly abandoned following numerous earthquakes.
about the place, Jerash:
Jerash north of Amman in Jordan was already inhabited in the Neolithic era since human remains dating back 7,500 years have been discovered there. The city flourished during the Greek and Roman periods and was largely destroyed by a violent earthquake on January 18, 749. The city being located in a region of high seismic activity, a series of earthquakes followed that of 749, ending the destruction of the city. The city experienced a short rebound when the Syrians built a fort there and made it a garrison of fifty soldiers who were quickly wiped out by the crusaders of Bauduin II, then king of Jerusalem.
Jerash is one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman sites, which earned it the nickname "Pompeii of the East".
Spoken comments in the film:
Jerash was founded towards the end of the 4th century BC and was an important city in antiquity. Successive conquests made it fall under the Judeans, the Nabataeans and finally the Romans.
It will be plundered in the 7th century by the Persians and then by the Arabs.
After having suffered various earthquakes it was abandoned after destruction during clashes between Muslims and Crusaders during the Crusades.
Jerash has remained hidden under a thick layer of sand for centuries, which explains its extraordinary state of preservation.
Music:
- YouTube video library - Butterflies in Love
- YouTube video library - Everything is fine
- YouTube video library - People Watching
Disclaimer: Despite its appropriateness, copyright issues prevent the use of jordanian traditional music in "Jerash, Pompeii of the East • Jordan ", hence the use of royalty-free music. Despite our careful selection, some might regret this decision, which is necessary to avoid potential lawsuits. Although difficult, this decision is the only viable solution.
