Abila of the Decapolis — Quweilbeh
Hellenistic to Umayyad (300 BCE–750 CE)·Seleucid / Roman Decapolis·🇯🇴 North Jordan, Jordan
About
About Abila of the Decapolis — Quweilbeh
Abila of the Decapolis — Quweilbeh in North Jordan, Jordan is a Hellenistic to Umayyad (300 BCE–750 CE) ancient-city attributed to Seleucid / Roman Decapolis. Decapolis hill city with theatres, churches, and rock-cut tombs at Wadi Quweilbeh. Two theatres (700 and 1000 seats), 6 churches, city walls and aqueduct.
Why it mattersKey Levantine tell with multi-period stratigraphy informing chronology of the North Jordan
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Stratigraphic sequence
- 02Biblical identification debated
Theories
- 01Border fortress model
- 02Trade route control
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 300 BCE
- Period
- Hellenistic to Umayyad (300 BCE–750 CE)
- Culture
- Seleucid / Roman Decapolis
- Purpose
- Decapolis hill city with theatres, churches, and rock-cut tombs at Wadi Quweilbeh
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 300 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1925 CE
Woolley/Petrie survey
On the ground
Structures & features
32.6800° N · 35.8700° E · 600 m · 3 mapped features
Abila of the Decapolis — Quweilbeh — Decapolis Theatre / Agora
theatreRoman theatre or agora
32.6802° N · 35.8701° EAbila of the Decapolis — Quweilbeh — Temple Precinct
templeSanctuary area
32.6798° N · 35.8702° EAbila of the Decapolis — Quweilbeh — City Wall Gate
gateCity gate and wall circuit
32.6804° N · 35.8698° E