GERASA, now JERAS1-1 (not named in the Bible), was in the Decapolis, and formed the eastern boundary of Parma. It lay on elevated ground, according to Ptolemy, in 68° 15' = 31a 4-3' lts inhabitants were m ostly heathen (Joseph. Deb'ell. yud. i. 4. 8 ; iii. 3. 3 ; comp. iv. 9. ; 5. Origen speaks of it as a city of Arabia (P4iacra ri)s ' Apcuplas effriv7roXts), which arose from the fact that it was a border city of Perma, and lay next to Arabia. After the Roman conquests in the East, the country in which Garasa lies became one of their favourite colonies, and ten principal cities were built on the east of the Jordan, giving the name of Decapolis to the land in which they stood. Gerasa was one, but not the greatest of these. The place was taken by storm by Alexander Jannmus, who was actuated by a desire of gaining a large treasure ( Joseph. De Bell. Yua'. i. 4. 8 ; Antig. Viii. 2. 3). Alexander died near it while besieging Regaba nades, theatres, bridges, aqueducts, etc. These remarks will give an idea of the magnificence of these ruins, particularly when we add that the northern exit is a mile apart from the southern entrance. A necropolis lies not far from the northern wall, in which were found nearly a hundred sculptured sarcophagi above ground, hav ing the appearance of having been ransacked for treasure. Near the necropolis were the remains of a small temple. The city stood on the facing slopes of two opposite hills, but, from the neigh bouring heights, it appears to be seated in the hol low of a deep valley, encircled on all sides by lofty and verdant mountains. Near this spot is the modern village of Aioode. Some inscriptions found on the ruins may be seen in Buckingham's Travels in Palestine, p. R. B.
(A ;dia. xiii. 13. 5). Before the place had time to recover from this calamity, it was included among the number of those cities which were burin by the enraged Jews in their vengeance on the Syrians, and on the Roman power generally, for the mas sacre of a number of their nation at Cxsarea (Joseph. De Bell. ,ua'.ii. 18. I). A terrible revenge
was taken hy other cities, but Gerasa is honourably excepted (De Bell. .7ucl. ii. 18. 5). Annius, gene ral under Vespasian, took the city ; after which he set fire to their houses," and what was remain ing was all burnt down' (De Bell. .7ud. iv. 9. 1). Gibbon enumerates this city among the line of for tresses from Basra to Petra, which formed the fron tier of the Syrian provinces in the lower empire. Baldwin H. of Jerusalem destroyed its castle in the ycar 1122 (Will. Tyr. p. 825 ; Histor. Hiero sol. p. 615). This was the native place of Nico machus Gerasenus. Coins of Gerasa may be seen in Eckhel (Num. Vet. iii. 339). Its ruins were first discovered by Scetzen, and have often been subse quently visited. They have been pronounced su perior to those of Palmyra.
On approaching Gcrasa on the southern side, Buckingham first saw a triumphal gateway, nearly entire, which was of the Corinthian order. Within this gateway, on the left, he observed a fine naumachia for the exhibition of sea-fights, the channels for filling which with water were still visible. Corn was growing near it. Passing on amid heaps of ruined fragments, he came to a second gateway. Entering the city through this its southern gate, he came into a large and beautiful circular colonnade of the Ionic order, having passed a peripteral temple, above which, on the left, was an open theatre. A long avenue of columns of the Corinthian order led through the whole length of the city. Climbing over huge masses of falling columns and masonry he noticed four columns on each side of the way of much greater size and height than the rest. Be yond this he came to a square, apparently once lined on both sides by an avenue of columns. He afterwards came to a portion of a semi-circular temple. A broken altar was near the ruins, on which was made out the name of Marcus Au relius. Beyond this again were temples, colon