The city flourished until the mid-eighth century CE , when the 749 Galilee earthquake destroyed large parts of it , while subsequent earthquakes ( 847 Damascus earthquake ) contributed to additional destruction . However , In the early 12th century , by the year 1120 , Zahir ad-Din Toghtekin , atabeg of Damascus ordered a garrison of forty men stationed in Jerash to convert the Temple of Artemis into a fortress . It was captured in 1121 by Baldwin II , King of Jerusalem , and utterly destroyed . Then , the Crusaders immediately abandoned Jerash and withdrew to Sakib ( Seecip ) ; the eastern border of the settlement
749 Galilee earthquake
749 Galilee earthquake
Jerash