---
title: Cardo Maximus, Caesarea Maritima
author: Patrick Scott Smith, M. A.
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21686/cardo-maximus-caesarea-maritima/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0)
updated: 2026-03-31
---
# Cardo Maximus, Caesarea Maritima
_Authored by [Patrick Scott Smith, M. A. ](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/patrickscottsmith1956/)_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/21686.jpg)
## Image Caption
As the [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) of [Caesarea Maritima](https://www.worldhistory.org/Caesarea_Maritima/) was built on an east-west axis, with the [temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/temple/) in between the city and [Herod's harbor](https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2269/herods-harbor/), the magnificent Cardo Maximus set the tone for those getting to their desired destinations. A wide street impressively lined with columns on both sides, pedestrians were able to walk in the shade of luxurious colonnaded sidewalks paved with mosaics.
As the street system of [Caesarea](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Caesarea/) followed a standard Hippodamian grid plan of twelve narrower *decumani* and four wide *cardines*, the Cardo Maximus was 16 meters (54 ft) wide and almost 1.6 kilometers (1 mi) long. To put it into perspective, a typical [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) road would have been around 7 meters (23 ft) wide. The 350 columns (certainly of the ornate Corinthian type that adorned the temple) that lined either side of the Cardo, following standard Roman practice, would have been spaced 4.6 meters (15 ft) apart, while their heights would have been over 6 meters (20 ft).
Using archaeological reports by Ehud Netzer, Barbara Burrell, Kenneth Holum, Robert Bull, and others, along with [Flavius Josephus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Flavius_Josephus/)' eyewitness descriptions, the image you see is part of the collaborative work of Lithodomos and Patrick Scott Smith.
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## About the Author
Presenting research for the American Society of Overseas Research and Missouri Academy of Science and writing for the Association for the Scientific Study of Religion, Patrick Smith won the 2015 and 2024 Frank Forwood Award for Excellence in Research.
## Cite This Work
### APA
A., P. S. S. M. (2026, March 31). Cardo Maximus, Caesarea Maritima. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
A., Patrick Scott Smith, M.. "Cardo Maximus, Caesarea Maritima." *World History Encyclopedia*, March 31, 2026. .
### MLA
A., Patrick Scott Smith, M.. "Cardo Maximus, Caesarea Maritima." *World History Encyclopedia*, 31 Mar 2026, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Patrick Scott Smith, M. A.](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/patrickscottsmith1956/ "User Page: Patrick Scott Smith, M. A."), published on 31 March 2026. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0deed.en). This licence only allows others to download this content and share it with others as long as the author is credited, but they can't change the content in any way or use it commercially. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.