There is no English annotation yet. Presented is an annotation in German.
The Roman ruins that are still visible today were photographed for the first time by A. Poidebard. Earlier travelers have already reported about this strategically important place on the old "Road of Raids" with the strongest well in the region. But no one was there in reality.
The area around is also today named as Ar-Rafiah within the Ard als Fanah ( Geonames.org) and so propably bears the sound of his ancient Names.
As an ideal and important point of call, between the Arabian desert and the Roman/Herodian-dominated region to the west, it can be described as identical with the rebellious settlement of Raepta, the military fortress town of Raphana and later probably also with Arpha and Arefa mentioned by the Notitia Dignitatum.
In addition to the properties and clues described in ancient literature, there are numerous archaeological indications of a large, militarily shaped city, even only in remote sensing and research. At least 11 auxiliary forts, a qanat system towards the city and larger areas with burial grounds around it could be located.
The peer-reviewed work "Raphana of the Decapolis" shows the previous confusion and offers plausible answers to all previous questions about this lost Decapolis city.
The Roman ruins that are still visible today were photographed for the first time by A. Poidebard. Earlier travelers have already reported about this strategically important place on the old "Road of Raids" with the strongest well in the region. But no one was there in reality.
The area around is also today named as Ar-Rafiah within the Ard als Fanah ( Geonames.org) and so propably bears the sound of his ancient Names.
As an ideal and important point of call, between the Arabian desert and the Roman/Herodian-dominated region to the west, it can be described as identical with the rebellious settlement of Raepta, the military fortress town of Raphana and later probably also with Arpha and Arefa mentioned by the Notitia Dignitatum.
In addition to the properties and clues described in ancient literature, there are numerous archaeological indications of a large, militarily shaped city, even only in remote sensing and research. At least 11 auxiliary forts, a qanat system towards the city and larger areas with burial grounds around it could be located.
The peer-reviewed work "Raphana of the Decapolis" shows the previous confusion and offers plausible answers to all previous questions about this lost Decapolis city.
