Temple of Artemis (Gerasa)

Jerash, Jordan

The Temple of Artemis was the largest temple in the ancient city of Gerasa. It is approached through the Propylaeum (150 CE), which leads to a massive staircase of 7 flights of 7 steps, rebuilt in the 1930s. At the top is a terrace with the foundations of an open-air altar, with another staircase leading to the tenemos, or sacred courtyard, with the remains of a small 6th century church in the southern part. The temple sits in an open precinct 160 x 120 m, surrounded by colonnades. In front of the temple are the remains of a second open-air altar, along with ruins of later Byzantine and Umayyad pottery kilns and workshops.