Nymphaeum, Umm Qais, Jordan

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The Roman Nymphaeum at ancient Gadara, now a thriving city in Jordan known as Umm Qais. Built during the latter half of the 2nd Century CE when Gadara was rapidly growing and flourishing. In 1998, archaeologists made an exciting discovery - a marble block nearby bearing an inscription that revealed the Nymphaeum was donated to the city by Aurelios Diophantes, an "astynomos" or city magistrate responsible for overseeing public buildings. As both a public water fountain and a shrine dedicated to the worship of the water nymphs, the greco-roman goddesses of water, lakes and rivers, the Nymphaeum played a crucial role in the city's life. Given Jordan's arid climate, the significance of the water goddesses and reliable water supply was unmistakable, evident in the grandeur of the structure, its elaborate marble decoration, and prominent location at the heart of Gadara on the decumanus maximus opposite the monumental steps to the Roman terrace. A photogrammetry model of the Nymphaeum was skillfully produced by local volunteers using drone imaging and photography for the Living Museum of Umm Qais Project (www.UmmQaisHeritage.com).