There are a large number of striking monuments located in Jerash: Hadrian’s Arch, a circus/hippodrome, two immense temples (to Zeus and Artemis), the nearly unique oval Forum which is surrounded by a fine colonnade, a long colonnaded street, two theatres (the Large South Theatre and smaller North Theatre), two baths, a scatter of small temples and an almost complete circuit of city walls. Most of these monuments were built by donations of the city’s wealthy citizens. From AD 350, a large Christian community lived in Jerash, and between AD 400-600, more than thirteen churches were built, many with superb mosaic floors. A cathedral was built in the fourth century A.D.

Today the ruins of Jerash are thoroughly excavated and excellently preserved. This has led to a nickname, the “Asian Pompeii.” Modern Jerash sprawls to the east of the ruins, sharing the same city wall but little else. The ruins have been carefully preserved and spared from encroachment. Due to its ruins, Jerash is the second-most popular tourist attraction in Jordan, closely behind the splendid ruins of Petra.