GAD'ARA. The modern Umm Keis, or Mkes, once a prominent city of Palestine, now in ruins. It was on the western extremity of a ridge of the Bashan plateau, six and one-half miles east of the Jordan, and six miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee. The site, 1194 feet above sea-level, com mands a magnificent view of the Jordan Valley. At the foot of the ridge, three miles to the north, flows the Sheriat el-Menadireh, the ancient Jar muk or Hieromax.
Gadara is first mentioned in the history of the Greek period. Josephus's statement that it was a Greek city implies that it was one of the many places in Palestine occupied by Greeks after Alex ander's conquest. (See DECAPOLIS and PALES TINE.) Polybius states (v. 71, xvi. 39) that it was twice taken by Antiochus III. of Syria, in n.c. 218, and again in n.c. 198, in his wars with Egypt for the possession of Palestine. It re mained nominally subject to Syria until about B.C. 100, when with other Greek cities east of the Jordan it was taken, after a ten months' siege. by the Jewish King, Alexander Jarurus, and partially destroyed. When Pompey reduced Syria to a Roman province (a.c. 65-63), he rebuilt Ga dara, as a favor to his freedman Demetrius, a Gadarene. The restored city was thenceforward the fast friend of Rome. On its coins it made use of the Pompeian era in commemoration of Pompey's kindness. Augustus, after the battle of Actium, gave Gadara to Herod the Great, much against the wishes of its citizens. For its loy alty to Rome it suffered greatly at the hands of the revolted Jews in the war of 66-70 A.D. At the
request of its wealthy citizens, Vespasian gave it a body of troops for protection against the Jews. From notices in ecclesiastical history it appears that it continued to flourish until the Mohammedan conquest.
The situation of (ladara was favorable for commerce. and it was a prosperous city, called by Joscphus the metropolis of Perea. It was one of the important members of the Decapolis (q.v.) and a centre of Greek culture. Meleager the poet, Theodorus the orator, Philodemus the Epicure an, Menippus the cynic, and others prominent in post-classical literature were Gadarenes. Its ruins are extensive and magnificent. It had two thea tres, and the remains of the colonnade that once lined the main street are among the most re markable in Palestine. Its water was supplied by an aqueduct from the Batanean hills, over 40 miles distant. The ancient cemetery east of the city is noted for the construction of its tombs, each with several separate chambers with doors swinging on stone hinges. The present in habitants live in these tombs. In Roman times the city was famous for its warm springs. They are in the river valley, mainly on the north bank. About them quite a suburb grew up, Amatha by name, and extensive ruins of baths and other buildings of the once famous resort are now found there. The springs are still fre quented by Bedawin, who consider the place neutral ground. Probably Gadara has no con nection with biblical history. See GERASNES, COUNTRY OF THE.