Roman Cardo Maximus, Beirut

The Roman Cardo Maximus in Beirut is a significant archaeological site that encapsulates the grandeur of ancient Roman urban planning. Discovered in 1963 next to the Maronite Cathedral of Saint George in the city's downtown area, this site features five standing columns, remnants of what was once a bustling Roman market. Dated to the second century AD, these columns serve as a marker for the intersection of Cardo Maximus and Decumanus Maximus, the primary colonnaded streets of Roman Berytus, modern-day Beirut.

The Cardo Maximus, running through the heart of Roman Berytus, connected the Roman Forum with a large complex extending from the al-Azariyeh building to Riad Al Solh Square. This thoroughfare was crucial in the spatial organization of the city, indicative of Roman architectural ambition and urban standards. The Decumanus Maximus, on the other hand, ran perpendicular to Emir Bashir Street and was aligned with the Romano-Hellenistic city wall. Over the centuries, materials from these colonnaded streets were repurposed during the Umayyad period to construct new city walls and water reservoirs.

The area's significance extended into the Christian era, evident from the adjacent 'stairway of the forty martyrs'. This site commemorates the Christian martyrs of Roman persecution and was once connected to vibrant pre-war food markets.

However, much of the ancient Roman features were lost due to modern developments. The construction of the ring road in 1860, intended to connect the Damascus-Beirut road to the harbor, along with various 20th-century building projects, has erased most of the historical landscape. Nevertheless, the new entrance to the Garden of Forgiveness has allowed access to the remnants of the original Roman street, preserving a glimpse into the city's illustrious past.