Capitolias Archaeological Site

Address: Capitolias (Beit Ras archaeological site), near Irbid Governorate, Jordan

Capitolias is a Roman-period city site in northern Jordan near the modern village of Beit Ras in Irbid Governorate, founded in the Hellenistic-Roman era and known for its well-preserved urban remains.

The city was established in the Hellenistic-Roman period and later developed under Roman administration; it is commonly listed among the cities connected to the Decapolis cultural network. Over the Byzantine and early Islamic periods the urban footprint contracted and many structures fell into ruin before modern archaeological work began to document and expose them.

The site sits immediately beside the village of Beit Ras in Irbid Governorate in northern Jordan, within the wider agricultural landscape north of the city of Irbid and north of the Sea of Galilee basin.

• Photography tip: Best light for photos is in the late afternoon when the low sun casts the excavated colonnades and masonry in warm tones.
• Visitor practicalities: Some areas are on open ground with limited shade and no extensive visitor facilities, so bring water and sun protection.

What to See#

• Site areas: Archaeological remains include a theatre, a colonnaded main street (cardo), public baths and domestic mosaic floors uncovered during excavations.
• Access point: The modern village of Beit Ras sits adjacent to the ruins and is the usual access point for visitors.

Capitolias corresponds to the archaeological site at modern Beit Ras near Irbid. From Irbid city center it is a short taxi or car ride to the village of Beit Ras where the ruins are located. Visitors coming from Amman can reach Irbid by intercity bus or car (roughly 100-120 km north of Amman) and then take local transport to the site.

• Go early in the morning to explore Capitolias's Roman and Byzantine remains before temperatures and tour groups build up-mornings give better light for mosaics and exposed ruins.
• Enter via the main access from Beit Ras (Capitolias) and look for onsite signage and local guides; archaeological highlights include the theatre, colonnaded streets and mosaic floors that are easy to miss without guidance.
• Combine a visit with nearby sites in northern Jordan (Umm Qais and local museums) to put Capitolias's ruins in historical context and avoid backtracking through the day's peak visiting hours.