Main Street (Cardo)

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View looking south towards the Hellenistic City Gate. This main street of Perge, the cardo, was close to 985 ft. [300 m.] long. It ran from the nymphaeum on the north side of the city to the Hellenistic City Gate on the south side — the two towers of which are visible at the far end of the street.

On both sides of the street note the standing columns. Outside of them, were covered walkways and numerous shops. The sixty-five foot [20 m.] wide street is itself divided into two lanes by a six-foot [2 m.] channel (in the center of the image proceeding away from the viewer). Freshwater flowed through this channel along the whole length of the street — from the nymphaeum to the Hellenistic Gate. The barriers inside of this large channel (visible) must have created visual and audible "rapids-effect." 

This street arrangement is very unique, although faint traces of a similar street arrangement are said to have been found at Pisidian Antioch.

For a modern example of such a watercourse (in Izmir) Click Here.

It is interesting that in the book of Revelation (22:1–2) the "New Jerusalem" is described as having ". . . a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street." At Perge, the water, instead of coming from the throne of God, it comes from under a representation of "Cestrus" at the nymphaeum.

For another view of this street, closer to the nymphaeum click here. For a view of carved columns along this street click here and here.

For a brief description of the biblical and historical significance of Perge click here.

This image is courtesy of Linda Kane.