Cardo Decumanus Crossing was in the heart of
Roman Berytus (actual
Beirut
Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
,
Lebanon
Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to Lebanon–Syria border, the north and east and Israel to Blue ...
).
Overview
The Cardo and Decumanus Maximus were the main colonnaded streets of
Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
Berytus.
Today, five erected columns mark the crossing of the Cardo and the Decumanus Maximus, the two main colonnaded streets of Roman Berytus. The Cardo Maximus connected the
Roman Forum to a large complex, extending from the al-Azariyeh building to
Riad Al Solh Square.
The Decumanus Maximus ran parallel to Emir Bashir Street. Salvaged material from these colonnaded streets was used since the Umayyad period to build a new city wall and a water reservoir near the Roman crossing.
The construction of the ring road in 1860 and building projects of the 20th century eliminated most of the ancient features. The new entrance to the
Garden of Forgiveness gives access to the original Roman street.
History
The Cardo Maximus connected the Roman Forum to a large complex, that was the center of the old Roman city. The Decumanus Maximus ran parallel to Emir Bashir Street, following the line of the earlier Romano-Hellenistic city wall.
The site of the crossing and the stairway next to it were once known as ‘the stairway of the forty martyrs’, commemorating the story of forty
Christians
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words '' Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρ ...
martyred during Roman persecutions. The stairway led from Emir Bashir Street to the pre-war food markets or souks: al-Lahhamin (the meat market), as-Samak (the fish market), al-Bayd (the egg market) and Al-Khodra (the vegetable market).
The construction of the ring road in 1860, connecting the Damascus-Beirut road to the harbor, and later building projects of the 20th century have obliterated most of the ancient features. The new entrance to the
Garden of Forgiveness gives access to the original Roman street.
Timeline
*1860: The construction of the ring road, connecting the
Damascus-
Beirut
Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
road to the harbor, and later building projects of the 20th century have obliterated most of the ancient features.
See also
*
Roman Forum, Beirut
*
Colonnaded Street
*
Roman Berytus
*
Riad Al Solh Square
*
Garden of Forgiveness
References
Bibliography
* Saghieh, Muntaha (2005) ''Urban Planning in a Seaport City, Beirut from Hellenistic to Byzantine Period'', in: Morhange, Christophe, Saghieh-Beydoun, Muntaha and Ala'eddine, Abdallah (Eds.) "La Mobilité des Paysages Portuaires Antiques du Liban". Bulletin d’Archéologie et d’Architecture Libanaises, Hors-série II : 147-184.
* Curvers, Hans H. (2013) BEY 148 (lot 1151) ''Excavations, Bab Derkeh and Decumanus Maximus west''. BCC Archeology Project Gray Reports (131014) (https://solidere.academia.edu/hanscurvers)
{{coord missing, Lebanon
Archaeological sites in Lebanon
Roman sites in Lebanon
Buildings and structures in Beirut
Monuments and memorials in Lebanon
Tourist attractions in Beirut