Temple of Artemis, JerashAbout Temple of Artemis, Jerash
The Temple of Artemis at Jerash is a Roman-era temple built in the 2nd century CE in the ancient city of Gerasa, now Jerash in northern Jordan. It was dedicated to the goddess Artemis, who was a principal deity in the city’s civic religion.
The temple stands on a raised plaza and is approached by a wide flight of steps and a processional courtyard; the remains of its columned façade and podium are prominent features in the park. The site is noted for its proportion and for the quality of surviving stonework and fragments of column drums and capitals.
Originally constructed in the Roman period as part of Jerash’s major public and sacred buildings, the temple and its precinct were used for official cult ceremonies and city rituals. Like other structures in Jerash, it was affected by later earthquakes and phases of reuse.
The temple sits within the Jerash Archaeological Park in northern Jordan, a short distance from the modern city of Jerash and north of Amman, and is commonly visited as part of the broader excavated Roman city.
- Site context: Part of the larger Jerash (Gerasa) archaeological park, the temple sits on an elevated platform and was a focal point of civic and religious life in Roman Gerasa.
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Best Time to Visit Temple of Artemis, Jerash
Best visited in spring (March-May) or autumn for mild weather and comfortable touring of the outdoor archaeological site.
Weather & Climate near Temple of Artemis, Jerash
Temple of Artemis, Jerash's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Mediterranean - Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate with hot summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 5°C to 32°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Acceptable | 5° - 13° | 7° | 81 mm | partly cloudy | 73% | 2.3 m/s | 0.5 low | 10.1h |
| February | Good | 5° - 14° | 8° | 79 mm | partly cloudy | 72% | 3.0 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 10.9h |
| March | Very Good | 7° - 17° | 12° | 56 mm | partly cloudy | 68% | 3.0 m/s | 1.2 high | 11.9h |
| April | Ideal | 11° - 23° | 17° | 19 mm | some cloud | 61% | 3.1 m/s | 1.7 very high | 12.9h |
| May | Ideal | 14° - 27° | 21° | 5 mm | mostly sunny | 55% | 2.9 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 13.7h |
| June | Ideal | 17° - 30° | 24° | 0 mm | clear | 53% | 3.2 m/s | 2.6 extreme | 14.1h |
| July | Ideal | 19° - 32° | 25° | 0 mm | clear | 56% | 3.4 m/s | 2.6 extreme | 13.9h |
| August | Ideal | 19° - 32° | 25° | 0 mm | clear | 59% | 3.2 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 13.2h |
| September | Ideal | 18° - 30° | 24° | 0 mm | clear | 58% | 3.1 m/s | 1.8 very high | 12.2h |
| October | Ideal | 15° - 27° | 21° | 7 mm | mostly sunny | 56% | 2.4 m/s | 1.2 high | 11.2h |
| November | Very Good | 10° - 20° | 15° | 38 mm | mostly sunny | 58% | 2.6 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 10.4h |
| December | Good | 6° - 15° | 10° | 70 mm | partly cloudy | 67% | 2.4 m/s | 0.5 low | 9.9h |
How to Get to Temple of Artemis, Jerash
From Amman: drive north roughly 45-60 minutes (about 48 km) along the main Amman-Jerash road to the city of Jerash. There are also regular minibuses and scheduled intercity buses from Amman’s northern bus area that go to Jerash.
When you arrive at the modern town, the Jerash Archaeological Park is adjacent to the main bus/minibus drop-off and parking area; the Temple of Artemis sits inside the park and is a short walk (around 5-10 minutes) from the main park entrance.
Tips for Visiting Temple of Artemis, Jerash
- Visit early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the mid-day coach groups and harsh light; the Temple of Artemis sits close to Jerash's Oval Plaza so you can see it as part of a single loop through the main colonnaded cardo.
- Before or after the temple, stop at the small on-site Jerash Archaeological Museum to see artifacts that explain the site's phases-many visitors skip this contextual background and miss how the temple fits into the city.
- Take your time circling the temple to view both the frontal colonnade and the rear cella area and masonry details; guided walk-throughs from a licensed local guide will point out inscriptions and architectural features most visitors overlook.