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Northern Tetrapylon
This archway with four entrances was built over the intersection of the cardo maximus (the main north–south axis) and the north decumanus (an east–west street).
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House XVII
The double-door entrance, interior courtyard, fine corbelled ceilings, decorated doorways and carved pillars indicate that it was built by a wealthy family.
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Unfinished Tomb
Offers a rare glimpse of the way the Nabataeans constructed their rock tombs, starting at the top on a platform of scaffolding and working their way down.
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Crusader Fort
At the summit of Al-Habis are the limited remains of this fort built in AD 1116 by Baldwin I. The ruins are not impressive, but the views across the city certainly are.
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Altar
The sacrificial altar in front of the Qasr al-Bint was once overlaid with marble, indicating that it was probably the main place of worship in the Nabataean city.
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Columbarium
The multiple niches of the the enigmatic Columbarium remain a mystery; some suppose they housed votive images or urns, others say this was a dovecote for pigeons.
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Roman Temple
Atop Tell al-Husn (note the remains of tombs cut into the hillside) are the stones of a Byzantine fort and Roman temple. There are good views of the Jordan Valley from here.
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Silk Tomb
Next to the distinctive Urn Tomb in the Royal Tomb group is the so-called Silk Tomb, noteworthy for the stunning swirls of pink-, white- and yellow-veined rock in its facade.
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Aquarium
Part of the Marine Science Station complex (7.5km south of Aqaba), the aging and dated tanks nonetheless provide a colourful glimpse of coral, moray eels, turtles and stonefish.
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Byzantine Fort
Atop Tell al-Husn (note the remains of tombs cut into the hillside) are the stones of a Byzantine fort and Roman temple. There are good views of the Jordan Valley from here.
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Canaanite Temple
Carved into the south side of the sites main hill is the recently excavated Canaanite temple, which was constructed in around 1270 BC, and dedicated to the Canaanite god Baal.
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Eastern Baths
The Eastern Baths lie outside the gated city on the other side of the wadi in the modern town of Jerash. They are lit up at night and are interestingly juxtaposed with a modern mosque.
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Barracks Chapel
The barracks chapel was added to the east of the barracks during the Byzantine period (around the 5th century) and is inscribed with the names of the archangels Gabriel, Raphael, Michael and Uriel.
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Barracks
The large structure just past the southern entrance is the barracks, built by the Romans. The towers were added later and, like the castle at Azraq, it has a swinging basalt door that still functions.
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Shops
A bit of imagination is needed to reconstruct the colonnaded courtyard opposite the ruins of the Byzantine church. The western section of the courtyard housed a row of shops (the shells of which remain).
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Mosque
The largest mosque in town, the minarets of this gracious building are visible above the towns skyline, making it a useful landmark.
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Decumanus Maximus
The main road passing through the site, and still paved to this day, once linked Gadara with other nearby ancient cities such as Abila and Pella. In its heyday, the road extended as far as the Mediterranean coast.
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Seven Pillars of Wisdom
Named in honour of Lawrence’s book, this large rock formation, with seven fluted turrets, is easy to see from the road. If you fancy a closer look, a rewarding hike circumnavigates the mountain via Makharas Canyon .
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House of Mary the Egyptian
Mary the Egyptian was a ‘reformed sinner’ who lived and died in a two-room house in the 4th century, now a ruin. The trail continues left, up some wooden stairs to a two-room hermit cave burrowed into the soft rock.
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House XIII
Originally a stable for domestic goats and sheep, and later renovated and used as a residence by Druze settlers. Here, take notice of the stone ventilation screen, which was used to separate the manger from the living space.
Total
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