The Cardo (Jerusalem)



The Cardo was a central north-south oriented thoroughfare in Jerusalem during the Late Roman and Byzantine periods. Together with the east-west oriented Decumanus, it reflects typical Roman city planning. The term "Cardo" derives from the Latin word for "hinge," referring to role as the main north–south axis in Roman cities.

The Cardo originated during the Late Roman period, beginning at the Damascus Gate it split into two main branches, the eastern Cardo following the route of the modern day "HaGai" street and the western Cardo which ascended towards Mount Zion and the modern day Jewish Quarter. Both branches run from the north and extend southwards. This initial construction phase occurred when Jerusalem was known as Aelia Capitolina, following the Roman reconstruction of the city after its destruction in 70 CE. The Cardo was extended during the Byzantine period, particularly in the 6th century under Emperor Justinian. This extension reached the southern parts of the city, including the modern-day Jewish Quarter. The Byzantine Cardo was characterized by its colonnaded design, with a central open-air passage flanked by sidewalks and shops. The 6th-century Madaba Map includes the Cardo in its detailed depiction of Jerusalem.

Significant archaeological discoveries related to the Cardo were made during excavations led by Nahman Avigad in the 1970s. Today, the Cardo is a main tourist area in the Jewish Quarter. Its restoration aimed to preserve the ancient street's historical integrity while incorporating contemporary materials. A portion of the Cardo has been rebuilt as a covered shopping arcade, reflecting the style of an ancient Roman street.

History
The Cardo in Jerusalem, also known as the Cardo Maximus, was a central thoroughfare in the ancient city, reflecting the typical Roman city planning. The term "Cardo" itself is derived from the Latin word for "hinge," signifying its role as the main north–south axis in Roman cities. The Cardo in Jerusalem originated during the Roman period, beginning at the Damascus Gate in the north extending southwards and splitting in two branches, the western branch leading up to the modern day Jewish quarter, and the eastern branch following the route of Ha-gay street towards the modern day Western Wall Plaza. The construction of the Cardo occurred when Jerusalem was known as Aelia Capitolina, following the Roman reconstruction of the city after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, and about a decade before the Bar Kokhba revolt.

The Cardo was further extended during the Byzantine period, particularly in the 6th century under Emperor Justinian. This extension reached the southern parts of the city, including the Jewish Quarter. The Byzantine Cardo was characterized by its colonnaded design, with a central open-air passage flanked by sidewalks and shops on either side. The Madaba Map, a 6th-century mosaic map discovered in a Byzantine church in Madaba, Jordan, provides a detailed depiction of Jerusalem, including the Cardo, highlighting its significance in the city's layout.

Roman period
The Cardo in Jerusalem was initially constructed during the Roman period, following the city's reestablishment as Aelia Capitolina by Emperor Hadrian in the 130s CE. This north-south thoroughfare was designed to facilitate movement and commerce within the city. The Roman Cardo began at the Damascus Gate in the north and extended southwards, forming the main axis of the city's layout. Its western branch probably led up to the northern gate of the Tenth Legion's encampment on the western hill of Ancient Jerusalem, the eastern branch followed the channel of the Tyropoeon Valley in which it was situated, parallel to the Western Wall of the Herodian Temple Mount, and presumably led toward the southern city gate, in the vicinity of the modern day Dung Gate. The two branches of the street were lined with colonnades and featured a central open-air passageway flanked by porticoed sidewalks and shops, reflecting the typical Roman architectural style. The construction of the Cardo was part of a broader effort to Romanize Jerusalem, integrating it into the empire's network of cities.

Byzantine period
During the Byzantine period, significant developments were made to the Cardo in Jerusalem. In the 6th century CE, under the reign of Emperor Justinian, the Cardo was extended further south from its original Roman layout. This extension reached the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and continued to Zion Gate. The Byzantine Cardo maintained the colonnaded design of its Roman predecessor, featuring a central open-air passage flanked by sidewalks and shops. Excavations have revealed a Byzantine level on the southern side of the Cardo, which included restored columns and other architectural elements. The Madaba Map, a 6th-century mosaic map found in a Byzantine church in Madaba, Jordan, prominently depicts the Cardo, underscoring its importance in the city's layout during this period.

Archaeological discoveries
Significant archaeological discoveries related to the Cardo in Jerusalem were made during excavations conducted by Nahman Avigad's team in the 1970s. These excavations uncovered a 200-meter-long section of the Cardo in the Jewish Quarter, dating back to the Byzantine period under Emperor Justinian. The remains of the Cardo, found four meters below the present-day street level, revealed a broad street flanked by colonnades and covered passageways. The street was divided by two rows of stone columns, with shops lining the southwestern part and more shops located behind an arcade of arches on the eastern side. The columns, made of hard limestone, were found in fragments and have since been reconstructed in their original positions. The well-hewn paving stones, laid in parallel rows, exhibit signs of age and wear. These findings corroborate the depiction of the Cardo on the Madaba Map, a 6th-century mosaic map that guided archaeologists in their search for Byzantine Jerusalem's remains.

Modern restoration
The modern restoration of the Cardo in Jerusalem began following its rediscovery during excavations in the Jewish Quarter in 1969. The restoration plan, heavily influenced by the depiction of the Cardo on the Madaba Map, aimed to preserve the ancient street's historical integrity while incorporating contemporary materials. A portion of the Cardo has been rebuilt as a covered shopping arcade, reflecting the style of an ancient Roman street. This restored section serves as a modern shopping lane, with stores housed in the ancient Crusader-era shops. The restoration has transformed the Cardo into a lively touristic area, maintaining its historical significance while adapting it for contemporary use.