East of the hill, a grid of streets has been excavated from the Roman period, parallel and at true right angles to each other, and most likely inhabited during the second century ِِA.C. Between them were insula ("islands") on which various structures were built. In the center, two colonnaded streets formed a cross. The north-south street was called the "cardo", while the east-west street was the "decumanus." Ruts made by the wheels of carts and myriad wagons passing by over many years are easily discernible in the paving stones of the central colonnaded street. At the sides of the streets various buildings were found. Discoveries from the Roman period included a spacious building, bathhouses and remains of homes. Additional buildings were erected here during the Byzantine period, among them, a church contiguous with the colonnaded street on the west, the “Nile Festival” House, dwellings, and a few industrial buildings.
The streets underwent many changes in the course of hundreds of years. In fact,during the Byzantine period some of the streets were repaired. The most important of the changes was the renovation of the intersection of the colonnaded streets carried out during the reign of Bishop Eutropius. This event was perpetuated in several Greek inscriptions integrated into the mosaic flooring of the stoa.   One Greek inscription reads: "Under our most saintly father Euthropius the Episcopus, the whole city, in the time of the fourteenth indiction." 

Back to Main Page