The Entrance to Ancient Gerasa...

My Second set of ruins comes from an image of the Arch of Hadrian that was the entrance to the Greco-Roman city Gerasa (not to be confused with the Arch of Hadrian in Athens...which if you ever seen it, is not easily confused with this arch) now Jerash in modern Jordan. The Romans conquered the city in 63 BC after which the city flourished for many years until the Persians took over the territory in 614 AD and a major earthquake destroyed much of it in 749 AD.  Today, it is considered one of the best preserved Roman cities in the Near East and continues to be excavated and explored.  The arch was built to commemorate a visit from the Emperor Hadrian around 129-130 AD.