Straight Street
Main Roman road of Damascus, Syria
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Straight Street (Arabic: الشارع المستقيم) is the old decumanus maximus, the main east-west Roman road, of Damascus, Syria.[1] It runs from east to west through the old city. It was originally built during the Seleucid period. According to the Acts of the Apostles (9:11) in the New Testament of the Christian Bible, Paul the Apostle stayed in a house on Straight Street.[2]
The western half of the street, including the Midhat Pasha Souq, is today also known as "Midhat Pasha Street", while the eastern half, leading to the Bab Sharqi gate, is known as "Bab Sharqi Street".[1]
History
During the Greek period in Damascus, the city was re-designed by Hippodamus, who gave the city a grid structure. The redesign created a grid structure, including the creation of the 1,500 metre-long street, Straight Street. It was designed to be the longest street during its construction.[3]
The Mariamite Cathedral of Damascus was built on Straight Street in the 2nd century, and has been rebuilt multiple times since then.[4] It currently serves as the seat of the Antiochian Orthodox Church.[4] The western half of the street, including the Midhat Pasha Souq, is now named "Midhat Pasha Street", while the eastern half, leading to the Bab Sharqi gate is named "Bab Sharqi Street".[1]
According to the King James Version of the English bible:
Gallery
The Straight Street, 1860s–1920s
Midhat Pasha Street
Bab Sharqi Street
Roman triumphal arch on Damascus Straight Street
