What was decapolis

Damascus, 8. Kanatha Qanawat , 9. Hippos Susieh Each city was a free-state polis whose territory included numerous small villages and rural settlements, endowed with certain privileges. The Decapolis dominated trade routes in the region bringing about prosperity and funding for public art and monumental Greco-Roman architecture such as the one found in Gerasa. Fertile soil and temperate climate encouraged the practice of intensive agriculture throughout the region. The presence of a significant Greek population, who settled in the region at the time of Alexander the Great and the Seleucids, is consistent with there being swine kept by the people of the Decapolis.

The town was known as Gadara, one of the most brilliant ancient Greco-Roman cities of the Decapolis; and according to the Bible, the place where Jesus pbuh cast out the Devil from two demoniacs into a herd of pigs Mathew Gadara was strategically situated, laced by a number of key trading routes connecting Syria and Palestine. It was blessed with fertile soil and abundant rainwater.

Archaeological surveys indicate that Gadara was occupied as early as the 7th century BC. The Greek historian, Polybius, described the region as being under Ptolemaic control at the time.

During these early years of Roman rule, the Nabataeans with their capital in Petra , controlled the trade routes as far north as Damascus. Unhappy with the competition, Mark Anthony dispatched King Herod the Great to weaken the Nabataeans, who finally gave up their northern interest in 31 BC. In appreciation for his efforts, Rome rewarded Herod with Gadara. The city reached its peak of prosperity in the 2nd century AD. New colonnaded streets, temples, theaters and baths sprouted.

Christianity spread slowly among the inhabitants of Gadara. It is located on the site of the village of Beit Ras, astride the road north from Irbid. There are scattered architectural pieces that can be seen there, some tombs, vaults, cisterns and traces of foundation walls, but no major standing structure.

Abila or ancient Raphana lies to the northern of Umm Qais. The largest site is located amidst verdant agricultural fields at the modern Ain Quweilbeh spring. Abila is more brutal than Jerash and Umm Qais.

Roman temples, Byzantine churches and early mosques lie amidst olive groves and wheat fields. Recent excavations indicate that the site was inhabited more than years ago in the early Bronze Age, and appears to have been continually used by man since then.

While several of its ancient structures have been excavated including aqueducts, tombs, gates and public buildings, ancient Raphana is especially fascinating because so much of its remains unexcavated, yet visible of the surface of the ground.

It was oil and water from the start. Things came to a head in B. This act set off the powder keg that became the Maccabean Revolt this Jewish victory is still celebrated today with Hanukkah. Although some Jews did become Hellenized, like Timothy Acts and the Sadducees, animosities continued to simmer between the two cultures for the next years. In 63 B. This was a relief to the Greeks, who resented the Jewish Hasmonean Kingdom that had been in charge in Israel.

These 10 semi-autonomous Gentile cities would now enjoy the protection and sophistication of Rome, in an otherwise backward in their minds Judea. Rome did little to ease the tensions between the Greeks and Jews, and it would eventually erupt in Caesarea with the Great Revolt in 66 A. When it spilled into Jerusalem, Rome would take drastic measures with catastrophic results.

Besides Scythopolis, Hippos is the only other Decapolis city in modern Israel today. Scythopolis and Hippos, the two best-preserved Roman cities in Israel, are a definite top ten stop for your itinerary.