Oval Plaza
Jordan
A truly unique and iconic feature of Jerash. This enormous oval-shaped public square is surrounded by a colonnade of Ionic columns. It was the social and commercial heart of the city.
Contents
10 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to the ancient city of Jerash, a place so remarkably preserved that it is frequently heralded by historians as the Pompeii of the Middle East. I am your guide, a scholar of antiquities, and together we shall embark upon…
Listen in the app2Approaching Antiquity: Hadrian's Arch and the Hippodrome
As we commence our expedition toward the magnificent Oval Plaza, our first encounter is with the awe-inspiring structures that lie just beyond the official city limits. We are currently standing before Hadrian's Arch, a…
Listen in the app3Crossing the Threshold: The South Gate and City Walls
Having absorbed the immense scale of the Hippodrome, we now proceed towards the official entrance of the walled city. Take a moment to observe the imposing fortifications stretching out before us. …
Listen in the app4The Master Stroke of Urban Planning: Entering the Oval Plaza
As we emerge from the shadows of the South Gate, the space before us suddenly explodes into a vast, breathtaking expanse of sunlight and stone. Welcome to the crown jewel of Jerash, one of the most iconic and unusual…
Listen in the app5The Fifty-Six Sentinels: The Ionic Colonnade
Let us direct our analytical focus away from the sprawling floor of the Oval Plaza and look upward toward the magnificent perimeter that defines its shape. We are surrounded by a perfectly symmetrical colonnade comprised of…
Listen in the app6A Chronicle in Stone: The Yellow and White Columns
As we continue our slow promenade around the sweeping perimeter of the Oval Plaza, I urge you to look very closely at the sheer coloration of the stone shafts that make up the colonnade. A casual observer might assume that the…
Listen in the app7Hidden Hydrology: The Slope and the Subterranean Sewers
Let us move away from the perimeter colonnade and step toward the very center of the Oval Plaza. As you walk across the massive, interlocking slabs of limestone paving, I want you to pay careful attention to the feedback from…
Listen in the app8The Watchful Eye: Looking up at the Temple of Zeus
From our vantage point here in the center of the Oval Plaza, I invite you to turn your gaze toward the elevated terrain just to the south. Looming majestically above our current position, perched upon a prominent rocky spur, are…
Listen in the app9Leaving the Ellipse: The Transition to the Cardo Maximus
As our comprehensive study of the Oval Plaza draws to a close, let us orient ourselves toward the northern exit of this magnificent space. We are about to cross an invisible but monumental threshold, transitioning from the wide,…
Listen in the app10Closing
We have reached the conclusion of our detailed, analytical journey through the magnificent Oval Plaza of Jerash. Let us pause here, at the threshold where the grand ellipse meets the bustling Cardo Maximus, to reflect upon the…
Listen in the app
What is Oval Plaza?
Oval Plaza is a place in Jordan with 10 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Jordan |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 10 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 32.2879, 35.8933 |
| Last updated |
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