The Cardo (Jerusalem)

[1] The term "Cardo" derives from the Latin word for "hinge," referring to role as the main north–south axis in Roman cities.

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,[1] and about a decade before the Bar Kokhba revolt.

The Byzantine Cardo was characterized by its colonnaded design, with a central open-air passage flanked by sidewalks and shops on either side.

[2] 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.

The Roman Cardo began at the Damascus Gate in the north and extended southwards, forming the main axis of the city's layout.

[6] 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.

[7] The Byzantine Cardo maintained the colonnaded design of its Roman predecessor, featuring a central open-air passage flanked by sidewalks and shops.

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 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.