GADARA, Palestine. It is not mentioned in the Bible, but the country of the Gadarenes is, which probably amounts to the same thing. It was the scene of the casting out of the de mons by Jesus and their entry into the swine. Gadara was a Greek city of importance, east of the Jordan, mentioned by Josephus, Polyb ius, Epiphanius, Pliny and Eusebius. It was a strongly fortified city. According to the Nishna it was fortified by Joshua. The first mention it receives in history was its capture along with other cities by Antiochus the Great in 218 B.C. About 20 years later it capitulated to Alexander Jannieus after a siege of 10 months. It was in the hands of the Jews for some time but was destroyed during the civil wars. Demetrius, a Gadarene, was a freeman of Pompey and to please him the city was re built and the citizens given complete freedom under Gabinius, the proconsul. Judea was divided into five districts, Gadara was made the executive centre of one of them (az. 57– 55). Under the reign of Herod the Great it was under his dominion, having been presented to him by Augustus Cwsar. After Herod's
death it again became part of the province of Syria. When the Jews revolted in 70 A.D. the city was captured by Vespasian. Later its im portance continued and it was the seat of an episcopal see. Its bishops were members of the councils of Nice and Ephesus. It is also mentioned in the Talmud. After the Mo hammedan conquest the city went to ruin and has been deserted for centuries. Its ruins have been identified at a site now called Umm Keis. The ruins prove the city to have been very rich and beautiful. They occupy a space of about two miles in circumference. Near the city were some baths known as the Thermim Helim and said to be inferior only to the baths of Balm. Epiphanius states that a yearly festival was held at the baths. He also intimates that some of the inhabitants dwelt in the caverns later used for tombs. For some years the Christians of Nazareth held an annual festival at Umm Keis, but Bedouin raids have put a stop to their observance.