Church of SS Cosmas and Damian, Jerash, Jerash Governorate, Jordan
At the north, the Church of St. Cosmas and St. Damian, twin brother doctors who were martyred in the 4th century, has the most splendid floor mosaics to be seen in Jarash. An inscription dates the mosaic to 553 AD, and the images include the churchwarden Theodore with his wife Georgia, praying with widespread arms.
Jarash is known for the ruins of the Greco-Roman city of Gerasa. Gerasa became an urban center during the 3rd century BC and a member of the federation of Greek cities known as the Decapolis (“ten cities” in Greek). Gerasa prospered during the 1st century BC as a result of its position on the incense and spice trade route from the Arabian Peninsula to Syria and the Mediterranean region. Gerasa reached its zenith in AD 130, flourishing economically and socially. The city began to decline in the 3rd century, later becoming a Christian city under the rule of the Byzantine empire. In AD 749, a major earthquake destroyed much of Jarash and its surroundings.
Epic Jordan Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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