Umm Qais is a Jordanian town in the north of the country. It lies on the site of the Ancient Roman city of Gadara. Monuments include the ruins of two Roman theaters. There is also an ancient terrace that runs in front of a Byzantine Church. Just outside the town are five Graeco-Roman columns. They rise up from the surrounding countryside and are a local landmark.
Jerash is a Jordanian city with a heritage of 6,500 years. After the Roman general Pompey occupied Jerash, it developed into a major Roman town. The surviving Ancient Roman monuments and buildings are among the best-preserved you can find. The original hippodrome could seat 15,000 people. Today, a local heritage group runs daily chariot races there. Other monuments worth exploring are the remains of the cathedral, and the Oval Plaza with its row of stone columns.
The city of Petra has monuments cut into the face of the rock. Among these is The Treasury. This has elaborate carving influenced by Ancient Greek architectural styles. There are also extensive tombs. These include the Silk Tomb, the Corinthian Tomb and the Urn Tomb. The imposing Palace Tomb is three stories high. Elsewhere in Petra is the High Place of Sacrifice with its two rock obelisks. When you descend from the High Place of Sacrifice, you pass other monuments such as the Lion Monument and the Garden Temple Complex.
Amman is the capital of Jordan. There are many Ancient Roman ruins here, but possibly the most striking is the Amphitheater. The Romans carved it into the side of a mountain. Even today, the Jordanians use the amphitheater for concerts and plays. To the east of Amman is Iraq El-Amir. This translates as the Cave of the Prince. Here there are 11 caves carved by hand around 2,000 years ago. Further down the Wadi Essair valley, you can find Qaser El-Abd - the Palace of the Slave.
