Touring the North, part 1: Umm Qais.

People often by-pass northern Jordan, taking the sites we have to see for granted, but some of the most beautiful places I have been in Jordan thus far, have been in the north. I think part of it has to do with the landscape. I am so fond of the trees, lakes, and green pastures, which during the winter and spring are plentiful in the north.




















Pictured above-- The Byzantine Church Terrace at Umm Qais

Umm Qais (أم قيس) is the first of these beautiful places. From Umm Qais you can see the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberius - بحيرة طبريا‎), Golan Heights -- technically part of Syria, but under Israeli control since the 6 day war in 1967, and the mountains in Lebanon.

Pictured below -- Golan Heights and Tiberius Lake.


















Umm Qais has a complex history, as it was ruled by the Romans, the Byzantine Christians, and the Muslims, all before it was largely destroyed by an earthquake around 747 AD. The influences from the various ruling kingdoms are still visible today.























Umm Qais is situated on the ruins of the ancient city of Gedara, which was once part of the larger Hellenistic-Roman city Decapolis. Decapolis included 10 major cities and in current times encompassing land in Israel, Syria, and Jordan. Philidelphia (currently Amman, the capital of Jordan), Damascus (capital of Syria), Arabella (Irbid, where I live), and Al-Huson (where I work), were all once part of Decapolis, which is estimated to date back to 323-63 BC.





Pictured -- the Roman Ruins at Umm Qais