# Gerasa

> city in Judaea, mentioned by Josephus

**Wikidata**: [Q25491022](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25491022)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerasa_(Judaea))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gerasa

## Summary
Gerasa is an ancient city and large human settlement located in the historical region of Judaea. It is historically recognized primarily through its mention by the historian Josephus. The site is distinct from other locations with similar names and is documented across multiple academic and digital knowledge bases.

## Key Facts
*   **Instance of:** City, Ancient City.
*   **Location:** Judaea.
*   **Historical Attribution:** Mentioned by Josephus.
*   **Classification:** Defined as a "large human settlement."
*   **Wikipedia Title:** "Gerasa (Judaea)".
*   **Language Availability:** Wikipedia entries exist in four languages: English (en), Greek (el), Hebrew (he), and Ukrainian (uk).
*   **Sitelink Count:** 4 (specific to this entity).
*   **Yale Lux ID:** `place/ff4113cf-99dc-422f-8b16-c409509d04a6`.
*   **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** `/g/11h24f5kld`, `/g/11hd_m5k3j`.
*   **National Library of Israel ID:** `987007565441805171`.

## FAQs
**Where is Gerasa located?**
Gerasa is situated in the region of Judaea. It is classified as both a city and an ancient city within this geographical context.

**Is there historical documentation for Gerasa?**
Yes, the city is specifically noted for being mentioned by Josephus, a first-century Romano-Jewish historian.

**In which languages is information about Gerasa available?**
Structured information and Wikipedia entries for Gerasa are available in English, Greek, Hebrew, and Ukrainian.

## Why It Matters
Gerasa holds relevance as a specific geographic location within the historical landscape of Judaea. Its mention by Josephus anchors it in classical antiquity, providing a textual reference point for historians and archaeologists studying the region's urban distribution. The existence of distinct identifiers across major knowledge systems (Wikidata, Google Knowledge Graph, National Library of Israel, Yale University) underscores its recognition as a distinct historical entity separate from other better-known ancient sites.

## Notable For
*   **Historical Citation:** Being one of the locations specifically cited by the historian Josephus in the context of Judaea.
*   **Academic Cataloging:** Possessing a dedicated identifier in the Yale Lux database and the National Library of Israel.
*   **Multilingual Documentation:** Having a distinct Wikipedia presence in four languages, distinguishing it within digital knowledge graphs.

## Body

### Historical and Geographical Context
Gerasa is identified as an **ancient city** and a **city** within the historical boundaries of **Judaea**. It falls under the broad class of a "large human settlement." The primary historical validation for the site comes from the works of **Josephus**, a key historical source for the history of Judaea in the first century. While the raw data does not specify the exact text or event associated with the mention, the attribution to Josephus serves as the core defining feature of this entity in the provided knowledge base.

### Digital Presence and Identifiers
The entity "Gerasa (Judaea)" is extensively mapped across various digital libraries and semantic webs.

*   **Wikipedia and Wikidata:** The entity maintains a **Wikipedia title** specifically disambiguated as "Gerasa (Judaea)." It has a **sitelink count** of 4, corresponding to its availability in four languages: **English (en)**, **Greek (el)**, **Hebrew (he)**, and **Ukrainian (uk)**. The **Wikidata description** explicitly labels it as a "city in Judaea, mentioned by Josephus."
*   **Library and Academic Systems:** It is cataloged in the **National Library of Israel** with the ID `987007565441805171`. Furthermore, it is indexed in the **Yale Lux** database with the unique identifier `place/ff4113cf-99dc-422f-8b16-c409509d04a6`.
*   **Knowledge Graphs:** The entity is tracked by the **Google Knowledge Graph** under two IDs: `/g/11h24f5kld` and `/g/11hd_m5k3j`.

### Classification
The entry distinguishes Gerasa as a specific instance of a "city," linking it to the broader class of "city" (defined as a large human settlement), a class which itself has significant digital footprint with a sitelink count of 252 across various platforms. This hierarchy places Gerasa within the standard taxonomy of human settlements while maintaining its unique identity through its specific location in Judaea and Josephus reference.

## References

1. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File