THE BASILICA
Read moreThe ruins of the basilica lie just above the hypogeum. It dates from the second half of the 4th century. Very damaged by the earthquake of 749, there is not much left. We can still guess its huge atrium of 52 meters long. The church was divided into 5 bays oriented from west to east and ended with an apse over the crypt. The entrance was through a hall supported by Ionic columns. Two additional small entrances were pierced in the north and south walls. The basilica was converted into a mosque after the defeat of the Crusaders.
THE UNDERGROUND MAUSOLEUM
Read moreUnder the octagonal basilica, at the foot of the theatre, an underground mausoleum dating back to the Roman occupation of Gadara was discovered by chance by the Jordanian army during the Six-Day War. It was used as a field hospital during the fighting. German archaeologists undertook excavations there in 1998 and unearthed a mosaic on display in the museum. They also found tombs guarded by sphinxes. A massive revolving slab separated the entrance from the burial chamber where eight sarcophagi were found.