제라쉬 비잔틴 교회 (Byzantine church in Jerash(Gerasa),암만(Amman Citadel, Jordan)

by baesungsoo 2014. 1. 8. 09:34

The Cardo "Colonnaded Street" in Jerash (출처-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jerash_City.jpg)

현재명 제라쉬는 성서명 거라사로 암만에서 45km 북쪽에 위치한 도시인데 과거에는 갈릴리와 요단 동편 지역의 10개의 로마 위성도시를 가리키는 데가볼리중 하나로 로마시절 크게 발전했던 도시이다. 제라쉬는 왕의 도로가 지나는 교역의 중심지로서 이미 3000년전부터 도시가 발전된 곳이지만 본격적으로 도시가 개발된 것은 헬라시대부터였다. 제라쉬는 왕의 대로 이외에 근처에 좋은 철광이 있어 국제교역과 철의 생산은 제라쉬를 융성한 도시로 만들어 로마제국 전체에서 아주 부유한 도시의 하나로 손꼽히게 되었다. 로마는 제라쉬를 더욱 대대적으로 개발하기 시작해 주후 70년대, 제라쉬는 로마의 도시개발에 따라 엄청난 상업도시로 변모하였고 그 영향은 갈릴리 호수와 그 주변 지역에 까지 미치기도 하였다.

Jerash Map (출처-http://kalidekada.blogspot.kr/2012/11/the-ruins-of-jerash.html)

Jerash Map (글, 지도 출처-http://www.atlastours.net/jordan/jerash_map.html)

The map highlights all major sights in the Jerash ruins and suggests, in number order, a walking route that takes it all in. Depending on your pace, allow between 1½ and 3½ hours for the complete tour.

1. Hadrian's ArchBuilt to commemorate the visit of the Emperor Hadrian to Gerasa in 129 AD, this splendid triumphal arch was intended to become the main southern gate to the city but the expansion plans were never completed. one unusual feature of its construction is the wreaths of carved acanthus leaves above the bases of the pillars.

2. HippodromeThe massive arena, 245 m long and 52 m wide (only part of which has been restored) could seat 15000 spectators to watch athletic competitions, horse races, chariot races, and other sports. The exact date of its construction is unclear; between the mid-2nd and 3rd centuries AD.

3. City Walls &South GateApproaching the city from the Visitor's Center, you see the impressive city walls, built at the beginning of the 4th century, most probably by Emperor Diocletian, and repeatedly expanded afterwards. The present walls are Byzantine and had a total length of 3456 m. The South Gate through which you enter Jerash, dates from 130 AD and has a characteristic carved acanthus-leaf decoration. The open area inside the gate was used as a marketplace, and a 2nd century olive press is visible behind a wooden screen.

4. Oval PlazaThe spacious plaza measures 90 x 80 m and is surrounded by a broad sidewalk and a colonnade of 1st century Ionic columns. There are 2 altars in the middle, and a fountain was added in the 7th century AD. This square structure now supports a central column, which was recently erected to carry the Jerash Festival flame.

5. The Cardo "Colonnaded Street"Still paved with the original stones - the ruts worn by chariot wheels still visible - the 800 m Cardo was the architectural spine and focal point of Gerasa. The colonnaded street was remodeled in the late 2nd century AD, probably after 170 AD. The Ionic columns were replaced by more elaborate Corinthian columns. on either side was a broad sidewalk with shops, which can still be clearly seen. An underground sewage system ran the full length of the Cardo, and the regular holes at the sides of the street drained rainwater into the sewers.

6. MacellumHalfway up the Cardo, the Colonnade becomes larger and taller, marking the entrance to the Macellum or market place, a building to the left of the colonnaded street. The inscription on the adjacent lion's head fountain is dated 211 AD.

7. Umayyad MosqueA newly excavated Umayyad mosque. Currently under excavation as of Aug 2006!

8. South TetrapylonThe intersection of the Cardo with the first cross street, the South Decumanus, was marked by 4 still visible pedestals, which supported columns and probably a pyramidal structure.

9. South BridgeTo the right, the south Decumanus runs east to a 73 m bridge which led to the town wall and residential quarter of Gerasa. Most of this is now buried under modern Jerash, with the exception of the East Baths, which can be seen across the modern road to the left of the mosque.

10. Umayyad HousesAt the western end of the South Decumanus is an Early Islamic Umayyad housing quarter inhabited from 660 to 800 AD. The south bridge led to the residential quarter and to the eastern gate.

11. The Cathedral Further up the Cardo on the left is the monumental and richly carved gateway of the 2nd century Roman Temple of Dionysus. In the 4th century the temple was rebuilt as a Byzantine church, now called the Cathedral, although there is no evidence it was more important than any other church. At the top of the stairs, against an outer east wall of the Cathedral, is the Shrine of St. Mary, with a painted inscription to St. Mary and the archangels Michael and Gabriel.

12. Church of Saint Theodore Lying above and behind the Cathedral, this large church was built in 496 AD. In between St. Theodore's and the West Side of the Cathedral entrance is a small paved piazza with a fountain in the center; this Fountain Court was originally the Cathedral atrium. The course of the underground lead pipe which fed the fountain can be seen as a line of obliquely laid stones northeast of the fountain.

13. NymphaeumThis ornamental fountain was constructed in 191 AD, and dedicated to the Nymphs. Such fountains were common in Roman cities, and provided a refreshing focal point for the city. This fine example was originally embellished with marble facings on the lower level and painted plaster on the upper level, topped with a half-dome roof Water cascaded through 7 carved lions' heads into small basins on the sidewalk and overflowed from there through drains into the underground sewer system.

14. PropylaeumThe procession to the Temple of Artemis originally started across the river in the part of Gerasa now covered by modern Jerash. Crossing the Cardo, worshippers approached the impressive entrance to the processional way leading up to the Temple of Artemis. Its massive columns and a carved portico were flanked by 2-storey shops.

15. Temple EsplanadeThe monumental staircase, originally enclosed by high walls, leads up to a U-shaped terrace where an open-air altar was built, the foundations of which are still visible. A second staircase leads through a colonnade of 22 Corinthian columns and into the Temenos. This sacred precinct, 162 x 121 m, was defined by Corinthian columns on all 4 sides.

16. Propylaeum ChurchOpposite the Propylaeum, this Byzantine church was built in the 6th century on the site of a colonnaded courtyard which formed part of the processional way. The columns were used as part of the church.

17. Naghawi's MosqueOn the right, behind 4 standing Corinthian columns is what seems to be an Ayyubid or Mamluk mosque discovered in 1981. This was probably built sometime during the 12th-15th centuries, using materials from the colonnaded atrium of a Roman house that stood there.

18. West BathsThe massive West Baths, on the right, covered an area of 50 x 70 m and now lie where they fell after the earthquake of January 749 AD. Typical of the 2nd century, the Baths were an imposing complex of hot and cold rooms and other facilities.

19. North TetrapylonThe second Tetrapylon, located where the North Decumanus or cross street intersects the Cardo, was built during Jerash's redesign, probably as a monumental entrance to the North Theater. At a later date, it was dedicated to Julia Domna, the Syrian wife of Emperor Septimius Severus, and probably had a domed roof in the 2nd century AD, elaborate carved decoration, arches and 4 sides to allow traffic to pass through.

20. North Colonnaded StreetBeyond the North Tetrapylon is a stretch of the Cardo that was never widened, and retains its simple Ionic columns.

21. North GateAt the end of the Cardo, the North Gate was built in 115 AD. Its odd wedge shape was probably necessary to align the gate on the inside with the Cardo, and on the outside with the Roman road, which led north to the Decapolis city of Pella.

22. North TheaterJust off the North Decumanus, the North Theater was built in 165 AD. In front is a colonnaded plaza where a staircase led up to the entrance. The theater originally had only 14 rows of seats, and was used as a performance stage as well as the city council chamber; the names of the tribes represented in the council are inscribed in Greek on some of the seats, along with those of several gods.

In 235 AD, the theater was doubled in size to its present capacity of 1600. Two vaulted passages formed the entrance to the orchestra, and spectators entered through passages between the upper rows of seats. The theater fell into disuse in the 5th century, and in later centuries, many of its stones were taken for use in other buildings.

23. Church of Bishop IsaiahBuilt in 559 AD, this Byzantine church was used until the earthquake of 749 AD.

24. Temple of ArtemisArtemis, daughter of Zeus and sister of Apollo, was the patron goddess of Gerasa. This Temple was a place of sacrifice dedicated to Artemis and built in 150. Although small, the temple's Corinthian columns soar impressively from the hilltop site; 11 of the 12 front columns are still standing. The temple's inner chamber was originally clad with marble slabs and housed a shrine which probably contained a statue of the goddess

25. Three ChurchesAt least 15 Byzantine churches have been found in Jerash, and more are thought to remain buried. Three of the finest are grouped together round a shared atrium. At the north, the Church of St. Cosmos and St. Damian, twin brother doctors who were martyred in the 4th century, has the most splendid floor mosaics to be seen in Jerash. An inscription dates the mosaic to 553 AD, and the images include the church warden Theodore with his wife Georgia, praying with widespread arms.

In the center, the church of St. John the Baptist dates from 531 AD. Its mosaic floor, now damaged, included images of the four seasons, plants and animals, and the cities of Alexandria and Memphis in Egypt.

The church of St. George, at the south, was built in 530 AD, and continued to be used after the earthquake of 749 AD. Its mosaics were therefore destroyed when the 8th century Christian iconoclastic movement banned the representation of humans and animals.

26. Church of St. Genesius The floor mosaic of this church dates back to its dedication in 611 AD, just 3 years before the Persian invasion.

27. Saints Peter and Paul Church This church complex has a nice mosaic but they aren't as grandiose as the other church complex at Jerash (highlight #25).

28. South TheaterBuilt during the reign of Emperor Domitian, between 90-92 AD, the South Theater seats more than 3000 spectators and serves today as the primary venue for the Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts. The first level of the ornate stage, originally 2-stories has been reconstructed and is still used today. The remarkable acoustics allows a speaker at the center of the orchestra floor to be heard by the entire auditorium without raising his/her voice.

Two vaulted passages lead into the orchestra, and four passages at the back of the theater give access to the upper rows of seats. Some seats could be reserved and the Greek letters which designate them can still be seen. For those who wish to climb more steps, the top row of seats affords an excellent view of the Jerash ruins.

29. Temple of ZeusErected in 162 AD, this temple stands on ruins of earlier sacred sites. From the Oval Plaza, a staircase leads up to an esplanade (in front of the temple), which was a Temenos, or sacred precinct. Originally, a rock in the esplanade served as a high place, and was enclosed into a shrine (Naos) in 100-80 BC.

This shrine was modified in 69-70 AD and in the 2nd century AD, probably under Emperor Hadrian. From there, another staircase led to the temple, which was originally surrounded by 15 m high Corinthian columns.

30. The MuseumNot to be missed when you visit Jerash is the Archaeological Museum, which houses a fascinating collection of artifacts found at the site. These include gold jewelry, coins, glass and perhaps the most unusual pottery theater tickets.

The Oval Forum and Cardo Maximus in ancient Jerash (출처-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Place_ovale_de_Gerasa_new.JPG)

A Bridge connecting the ancient city of Gerasa to modern Jerash (출처-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerash)

<The Three Churches >

ruins of the bzyantinic church (출처-http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gadara_BW_7.JPG)

The Three Churches complex (St. George church, St. John church, St. Cosmos and St. Damian church) from VI century AD.
(출처-http://www.travel-tour-guide.com/jordan_trip_photos/1_jerash_city_tour_roman_empire.htm)

로마의 도시 제라쉬는 주후 4∼7세기 비잔틴 시대에도 계속 발전하게 된다. 기독교를 공인했던 비잔틴 시대에는 로마 황제의 도움으로 기독교는 널리 전파되었고, 제라쉬에도 많은 교회들이 세워졌다. 지금까지 그곳에서 확인된 교회 수만 해도 15곳에 이른다. 한 도시에 이렇게 많은 교회가 세워진 것은 극히 이례적인 일이다. 특히 '대성당이라고 불리는 비잔틴 시대의 교회는, 과거 '디오니소스'신전을 교회로 전환시킨 것으로 사람들의 관심을 끈다. 그러나 서기 630년대 모슬렘들이 이 지역을 정복하면서 제라쉬의 번영은 쇠퇴하기 시작했다. 게다가 주후 740년대 요단강 동편지역을 강타한 대지진으로 웅대한 석조건물들이 대부분 무너져 제라쉬의 영광은 모래와 흙더미속에 파묻히게 되었다가 20세기에 들어서야 발굴 작업이 진행되고 있는 중이다.

The Three Churches complex (St. George church, St. John church, St. Cosmos and St. Damian church) from VI century AD.
(출처-http://www.travel-tour-guide.com/jordan_trip_photos/1_jerash_city_tour_roman_empire.htm)

<Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian>