Standing at the centre of the Oval Plaza, the 360-degree panorama unfolds across an immense expanse of ancient limestone paving, its irregular slabs carrying the eye toward the graceful curve of the surrounding Ionic colonnade. The columns form a sweeping architectural embrace, rising against the brilliant Jordanian sky and framing views of the city’s hills, ruins and scattered monuments. In one direction, the plaza opens toward the Cardo Maximus, whose straight colonnaded line draws visitors into the heart of ancient Gerasa; in another, the ground rises toward the Sanctuary of Zeus, reminding you that this open space was the ceremonial link between the city’s main street and its great temple. A solitary column and flagstaff stand within the wide paved centre, adding a modern note to a space that has served as a place of movement, gathering and celebration for almost two thousand years. The panorama captures the Plaza’s remarkable character: open yet enclosed, monumental yet welcoming, and unlike any other Roman public square.
Follow the curve of the columns before turning towards the straight avenue beyond the plaza. This comparison makes the transition between the two spaces particularly clear. Looking down at the paving also reveals how individual slabs form the surface of this expansive enclosure.
