Gerasa
The development of the ancient city of Gerasa is both interesting and under-researched, but Adam Lichtenberger and Rubina Raja have recently been working to reduce the validity of the latter adjective. However, much of what they found contradicts that which was expected to be discovered—yet it is not contradictory to a logical progression for the development of a city under foreign rule. For instance, Lichtenberger and Raja’s examination of the city’s Northwest Quarter revealed a large body of local influence on the imperial developments that were found—particularly evidenced by the large, sculpted limestone block found as a result of the 2011 surface survey of the Northwest Quarter of Gerasa. The block, which “can be assumed [to originate]
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For instance, the Romans deconstructed the Greek Temple of Athena at Pallene, moved it to the Athenian Agora, and rededicated it to the Roman god Ares. Thus, Romans reusing elements of a conquered peoples’ previously standing monuments is not without precedent and is actually quite likely. In addition, this reuse of materials—particularly to facilitate an economic driver—is in accordance with an observation of coin frequencies and their societal implications in Palestine and Arabia by Alan Walmsley. By “[measuring] against other archaeological data, especially architecture and other categories of material finds, the numismatic evidence from controlled excavations,” Walmsley was able to observe “significant changes to the urban and economic structures of towns,” particularly through “the expansion of the commercial role of towns.” The repurposing of a block from an old religious building to create an oil press would certainly fit this observed role and is consistent with what is to be expected from both architectural and general archeological …show more content…
It seems that the Northwest Quarter of Gerasa was simply used as a store of resources within the city, which later began to be developed into an area with some religious constructions. While the extent to which the area was planned to be developed cannot be known, it likely was intended to be either further developed or used extensively for future agricultural and religious endeavors, as there is a lack of grave sites within the Quarter’s
For instance, the Romans deconstructed the Greek Temple of Athena at Pallene, moved it to the Athenian Agora, and rededicated it to the Roman god Ares. Thus, Romans reusing elements of a conquered peoples’ previously standing monuments is not without precedent and is actually quite likely. In addition, this reuse of materials—particularly to facilitate an economic driver—is in accordance with an observation of coin frequencies and their societal implications in Palestine and Arabia by Alan Walmsley. By “[measuring] against other archaeological data, especially architecture and other categories of material finds, the numismatic evidence from controlled excavations,” Walmsley was able to observe “significant changes to the urban and economic structures of towns,” particularly through “the expansion of the commercial role of towns.” The repurposing of a block from an old religious building to create an oil press would certainly fit this observed role and is consistent with what is to be expected from both architectural and general archeological …show more content…
It seems that the Northwest Quarter of Gerasa was simply used as a store of resources within the city, which later began to be developed into an area with some religious constructions. While the extent to which the area was planned to be developed cannot be known, it likely was intended to be either further developed or used extensively for future agricultural and religious endeavors, as there is a lack of grave sites within the Quarter’s