Information about the Jerusalem's Cardo Street itself will be provided after this announcement.
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Cardo maximus (“the main line”) was the main North-South royal road in the Roman and Byzantine Aelia Capetalina (Jerusalem). A small section of this grand and wide road was excavated in the Jewish quarter, probably built in the 6th century AD.
Cardo Maximus, or simply the Cardo, was the main North-South “Boulevard” of Aelia Capetalina, the Roman and Byzantine city that was established in the 2nd century AD. It was a monumental royal road, which was typical of the grand Roman cities. It is emphasized in the Madaba map, showing that it played a central role in the urban design of the Byzantine city.
Roman
The street was designed by the Romans in the 2nd century AD after the city was established and rebuilt by Hadrian, which razed the city following the failed Bar-Kochva’s revolt in 136 AD. This was the main North-South street that crossed the city from the North (Nablus Gate) to the south (Zion gate). Another route split from the north gate from this main street to the Valley Cardo, which ended near the dung gate.
Initially, the Cadro Maximus was constructed only in the northern section, probably by Constantine the Great (4th century AD). This section was not excavated.
Byzantine
The southern section of the road, in the Jewish quarter, was excavated and most of the archaeological findings were from the 6th century AD. Thus it is likely that this section was commissioned by Byzantine Emperor Justinus (565-527 AD), when the city became an important Christian center and the southern section has increased in population. At this emperor’s times the city witnessed an expansion and grand projects were launched, including the southern section of Cardo Maximus. The road linked between the two main Churches at the time: the new Nea church (built by Justinus I) and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Its wide and grand design was useful for the religious marches, glorified the city and adapted it to modern traffic.
Post Byzantine
The road stopped to function after the Byzantine period (7th century AD, after the Arab conquest) and was altered over the years. In the area between the buildings on both sides of the Cardo, new shops and workshops were built, some reusing parts of the stones. During the Crusaders period three covered markets were constructed on the basis of the Cardo Maximus, and some of the arches have Crusaders markings (“SA”=Santa Anna Monastry, “T”=Templars).
After years, the Cardo pathway became a large bazaar, as it is today. The modern streets (Khan Az Zeit, Suq Al Attarin) still follow the original orientation (a line from Nablus gate to Zion gate) but have narrowed down and snaked through randomly built houses, losing the initial ordered design.
Modern times
Cardo Maximus was excavated in 1975 by N. Avigad after the Jewish quarter development society commissioned a development project for the area. Several of the houses were leveled, others were dug under their foundations. The complex excavations took 2 years to complete, and it is interesting to follow the description of this expedition. Today, the visitors to the Jewish quarter can see a small section of this magnificent Roman street, and using some imagination - visualize how was the life in the Byzantine city.
Zahi Shaked A tour guide in Israel and his camera zahigo25@walla.com +972-54-6905522 tel סיור עם מורה הדרך ומדריך הטיולים צחי שקד 0546905522
My name is Zahi Shaked
In 2000 I became a registered licensed tourist guide.
My dedication in life is to pass on the ancient history of the Holy Land.
Following upon many years of travel around the world, which was highlighted by a very exciting emotional and soul-searching meeting with the Dalai Lama, I realized that I had a mission. To pass on the history of the Holy Land, its religions, and in particular, the birth and development of Christianity.