The Decapolis: History and Archaeology - AKAV00052

• Title: The Decapolis: History and Archaeology
• Guaranteed by: Institute for Classical Archeology (21-UKAR)
• Faculty: Faculty of Arts
• Actual: from 2020
• Semester: summer
• Points: 0
• E-Credits: 5
• Examination process: summer s.:
• Hours per week, examination: summer s.:2/0, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: unknown / unknown (unknown)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: not taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment
• Guarantor: Mgr. Adam Pažout
• Interchangeability : AKA500087

Annotation

Last update: Mgr. Petra Tušlová, Ph.D. (08.01.2020)

The course is focusing on history and archaeology of a group of Hellenistic foundations located in a compact
region of the southern Levant encompassing parts of modern-day Israel, Jordan and Syria, and which is usually
called Dekapolis (i.e. ten cities). The course will trace their origins from the period of Alexander’s conquest of Syria
in 332 BCE, through the period of Ptolemaic and Seleucid domination and struggle over the Levant, their fate
during the time of Maccabean Revolt and Hasmonaean kingdom, and finally revival and development under Pax
Romana until the beginning of transformation brought about with emergence of Christianity in the 4th c. CE.

The main focus will be on the archaeology of key urban sites excavated up till today (Scythopolis, Gadara, Gerasa,
Pella, Hippos and others): the development of urbanism, fortifications, cult places and other large public buildings
(theatres, markets, odeia, hippodromes etc.). Attention will be paid also to the rural hinterland of the cities,
development of settlement patterns and economic life. The Decapolis will be treated in the context of archaeology
of the southern Levant, which was a place of interaction and exchange between local cultures and traditions
(Jewish, Arab etc.) with Greek and later Roman newcomers.

Literature

Last update: Mgr. Petra Tušlová, Ph.D. (08.01.2020)

Suggested bibliography

BROWNING, I. 1982: Jerash and the Decapolis. London.

EISENBERG, M. et al. 2018: Hippos-Sussita of the Decapolis: The First Twelve Seasons of Excavations 2000-2011, Volume 2. Haifa.

HOFFMANN, A. - KERNER, S. (eds.) 2002: Gadara - Gerasa und die Dekapolis. Mainz am Rhein.

LICHTENBERGER, A. 2003: Kulte und Kultur der Dekapolis: Untersuchungen zu numismatischen, archäologischen un epigraphischen Zeugnissen. Wiesbaden.

MAZOR, G. - NAJJAR, A. 2007: Bet-Shean I, Nysa-Scythopolis: The Caesareum and the Odeum. Jerusalem.

MILLAR, F. 1993: The Roman Near East 31 BC - AD 337. Cambridge, London.

OVADIAH, A. - TURNHEIM, Y. 2011: Roman Temples, Shrines and Temene in Israel. Rome.

SARTRE, M. 2001: D’Alexandre à Zénobie: Histoire du Levant antique IVe siècle av. J.C. - IIIe siècle ap. J.C. Paris.

SEGAL, A. 1995: Theatres in Roman Palestine and Provincia Arabia. Leiden, New York and Köln.

• 2013: Temples and Sanctuaries in the Roman East. Oxford.

SEGAL, A. et al. 2014: Hippos-Sussita of the Decapolis: The First Twelve Seasons of Excavations 2000-2011, Volume 1. Haifa.

WEBER, T. M. 1993: Pella Decapolitana: Studien zu Geschichte, Architektur und Bildenden Kunst einer Hellenisierten Stadt des Nördlichen Ostjordanlandes. Wiesbaden.

• 2002: Gadara - Umm Qēs I: Gadara Decapolitana, Untersuchungen zur Topographie, Geschichte, Architektur und Bildenden Kunst einer “Polis Hellenis” im Ostjordanland. Wiesbaden.

WEISS, Z. 2014: Public Spectacles in Roman and Late Antique Palestine. Cambridge, London.

Syllabus

Last update: Mgr. Petra Tušlová, Ph.D. (08.01.2020)

1. Introduction. Geography, natural environment. Ancient Sources on the Decapolis. The definition of Decapolis and Historical Geography. History of research.

2. History of the southern Levant from the Hellenistic to the Late Roman period

3. The Hellenistic foundations: archaeology of the 3rd/2nd c. BCE

4. The Early Roman revival

5. Archaeology of the Roman period I: Urbanism, fortifications, public spaces

6. Archaeology of the Roman period II: Cults, temples

7. Archaeology of the Roman period III: Public entertainment (theatres, odeia, hippodromes)

8. Archaeology of the Roman period IV: Water management (aqueducts and baths)

9. Hinterlands, rural settlement and economy

10. On the way to the Christian Late Antiquity - the 3rd/4th c. CE transformation