Roman Baths in 7th Century

Roman Thermae at Hamat Gader, under Israeli control a few kilometers from the Jordanian border. These Springs were restored and reopened in 663 AD by Mu'awiya I, who spared no expense in restoring the baths.

"The combination of a sacred spring, therapeutic thermae and a cultic theatre offered visitors the same type of religious, medical and social facilities which were available at many cultic centres throughout the Roman Empire."

- Hirschfeld, Yizar, and Giora Solar. “The Roman Thermae at Ḥammat Gader: Preliminary Report of Three Seasons of Excavations.” Israel Exploration Journal, vol. 31, no. 3/4, 1981, pp. 197–219.

This inscription is the only inscription to attest to the rule of Mu'awiya I in Syria. Mu'awiya I (661-680 AD) was the founder and first caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate ٱلْخِلَافَة ٱلْأُمَوِيَّة (750-651 AD), the second of four major caliphates after the death of Muhammad.

"In the days of Abd Allah ("Servant of God") Mu'awiya, the commander of the faithful, the hot baths of the people there were saved and rebuilt by Abd Allah son of Abuasemos (Abu Hashem?) the Counsellor, on the fifth of the month of December, the second day of the 6th year of the indiction, in the year 726 of the colony, according to the Arabs the 42nd year, for the healing of the sick, under the care of Joannes, the official of Gadara". The years quoted correspond to the year ca. 663 AD.

And this is a coin from the time of Mu'awiya I that imitated a Khusro drachm.

Islamic, Umayyad Caliphate, time of Mu'awiya I ibn Abi Sufyan, AH 41-60 / AD 661-680, AR Drachm, Khusro type, BYŠ (Bishapur) mint, dated AH 48 (AD 668/9).

Obv: Crowned Sasanian-style bust right; rabbi and bismillah in Arabic in outer margin

Rev: Fire altar with ribbons and attendants; star and crescent flanking flames; date to left; mint to right

Ref: SICA I 122-7; Walker, Arab-Sasanian 25; Album 5

Note: This type is now identified as an issue of Ziyad b. Abi Sufyan as

governor of al-Basra, before he was granted the governorship of

al-Kufa as well. (Album 5) administrator of the Umayyad caliphate, governor of Basra in 665–670, first governor of Iraq and virtual viceroy of the eastern Caliphate between 670 and his death.