Jerash - Gate - South 01
The South Gate, just like the somewhat later, much larger Hadrian's Arch, was built in honor of the Roman Emperor Hadrian on the occasion of his visit to Gerasa in the winter of 129/130 AD. Both constructions, between which a new southern quarter was planned on Hadrian's initiative, show great similarities, therefore the South Gate could be something like the prototype of Hadrian's Arch. This can be seen in the basic structure of the buildings: a high central passage and two smaller side gates with window-like niches above them, as well as outer pavilions, from which in the case of the South Gate stairs led up to the city wall later on.

There are also clear similarities in the details: as in the superimposed three-quarter columns on Hadrian's Arch, the half-columns on the South Gate are crowned by Corinthian capitals and their column shafts also stand on Attic bases and are surrounded by a wreath of acanthus leaves. At the South Gate, too, the three passages are framed by pilasters, finished at the top by acanthus leaves and moldings with frieze-like ornaments, supporting semi-circular arches fronting the barrel vault.
When the city wall was built in several phases from the end of the 3rd or beginning of the 4th century, the South Gate was integrated into it. The wall surrounded Gerasa on both banks of the wadi, was about 3.4 kilometers long and on average 2.90 m thick. About every 17 to 20 meters it was reinforced by solidly filled towers with a side length of about 6 meters, the entrances to which were 3 to 4 meters high and could only be reached by means of portable ladders. (<a href="https://universes.art/en/art-destinations/jordan/jerash/south-gate" rel="noreferrer nofollow">universes.art/en/art-destinations/jordan/jerash/south-gate</a>)
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