جراسيا التاريخ

لجان الدعم المجتمعي - جرش

“Gracia History”

Community Support Committees - Jerash

 29/09/2024

The city of Jerash is one of the most important archaeological cities in Jordan and among the best-preserved Roman cities in the world, reflecting a rich history spanning thousands of years. Due to its historical significance and in celebration of World Tourism Day, the Community Support Committee (CSC) in Jerash, implemented by the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD) with funding from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), organized an awareness and environmental tour of the archaeological sites in the city of Jerash. The event was held in cooperation with the Greater Jerash Municipality, the Directorate of Tourism and Antiquities, the Directorate of Environment in Jerash, the Community Police, and the Tourism Police.

The delegation was accompanied on the tour by the Directors of Tourism and Environment in Jerash, the Director of the Tourism Police, a representative from the Greater Jerash Municipality, a representative from the Community Police, along with a team leader and liaison officer from JOHUD. At the start of the tour, an introduction was given about the CSCs and the activities and programs they implement with the support of UNHCR, targeting various groups, including men, women, youth, children, and persons with disabilities. The Directorate of Tourism and Antiquities and the Directorate of Environment gave an informative presentation on the history of the ancient city of Gracia and its significance for Jordanian tourism, highlighting its most important landmarks.

The tour began with a cleanup campaign in the ancient city of Gracia, involving partners and participants from both Jordanian and Syrian nationalities as a tribute to the historical and archaeological value of Gracia. The tour covered several key locations, including the Forum, surrounded by massive Corinthian Roman columns used for public gatherings and celebrations, the Cardo (Street of Columns), the Roman theaters, the Roman market, and finally, the Temple of Artemis, one of the most significant landmarks in Jerash. Built in honor of the goddess Artemis, the temple is distinguished by its massive columns and beautiful architectural decorations and stands as a symbol of religious power in ancient Jerash.

During the tour, informational brochures detailing the history of Gracia and an overview of its main landmarks were distributed to tourists in both Arabic and English, in coordination with the Directorate of Tourism and Antiquities. A total of 21 people participated in the tour, including 18 Syrian refugees and 3 Jordanians (18 women and 3 men).