The Decumanus Maximus was a fundamental feature of Roman urban planning, serving as a major east-west thoroughfare in many ancient Roman towns and cities. Derived from the Latin word "decumanus", meaning tenth, it was typically the widest street in the town grid, intersecting perpendicularly with the Cardo Maximus, the main north-south street. This grid pattern formed the backbone of Roman urban design, reflecting the Romans' practical approach to city organization and infrastructure.

In Roman towns, including Jerash, Herculaneum, and Rome itself among many others across the empire, the Decumanus Maximus played a pivotal role in facilitating movement of traffic, commerce, and social interaction. Lined with shops, workshops, public buildings, and residences, it was a bustling corridor of activity where residents conducted daily business, bought and sold goods, and engaged in social gatherings.

Archaeological excavations in all major ancient Roman cities have unearthed well-preserved sections of the Decumanus Maximus, providing valuable insights into Roman urban life. The street's layout, flanked by colonnades or sidewalks, and its strategic location within the town's broader infrastructure underscored its importance as a commercial and cultural artery.

circa 200 CE

Decumanus Maximus of Petra
The colonnaded street, of ancient Petra was the Decumanus Maximus street with commercial shops on both sides. It started at the foot of the eastern ridge and stretched to the Qasa al-Bint in the west. The so-called "colonnaded street" or the decumanus of Petra, built by the Romans after they took control of Petra in 106 CE, extended for about nine hundred meter. That year marked the end of the Nabataean Era. The city then became part of the Roman Empire’s Provincia Arabia. The ancient shops once flanking this avenue are gone or are in ruins.

A large number of notable archaeological structures remain along the Petra decumanus, including, a nymphaeum, the great temple, temenos, and a Hadrianic gate or triumphal arch.

circa 10 CE

Decumanus of Herculaneum
In Herculaneum, like in many Roman towns, the Decumanus Maximus was a vital east-west thoroughfare that structured the urban landscape and facilitated daily life. Running horizontally through the town grid, the Decumanus Maximus intersected with the Cardo Maximus, the main north-south street, forming a crucial axis of movement and commerce. Archaeological findings along the Decumanus Maximus in Herculaneum reveal well-preserved sections of colonnades, sidewalks, and remnants of buildings that once flourished with commercial and residential activities. The street's strategic positioning and architectural elements highlight the Romans' expertise in urban planning, emphasizing functionality and efficiency in their city design. Today the exposed length of the ancient road is about hundred meters.

circa 10 CE

Decumanus of Ancient Palmyra
The decumanus or the colonnaded street of ancient Palmyra was lined with colonnades and served as a central artery for traffic, commerce, social activities, and ceremonial events, connecting various key structures and districts of the city. The Decumanus was characterized by its impressive colonnades, which flanked the street on both sides, providing shelter for pedestrians and shopfronts. These colonnades were composed of Corinthian columns, adding a touch of grandeur and elegance to the urban landscape. The street itself was paved with large stone slabs, designed to accommodate the heavy traffic of carts, chariots, and pedestrians that traversed the city daily.

The decumanus in Palmyra has survived and is exposed up a kilometer, starting at the "western funerary temple" and reaching just outside the ancient monumental arch (now lost arch) of Palmyra. Archaeological excavations along the Decumanus have uncovered various artifacts that provide insights into the daily life and trade activities of ancient Palmyra. These include coins, pottery, inscriptions, and remnants of the original pavement and colonnades. These findings illustrate the city's prosperity and its significance as a trading hub.

circa 10 CE

Via dell'Abbondanza
The ancient decumanus of Pompeii, today known as the via dell'Abbondanza, was the primary road that connects the eastern and western parts of the city. The entire city was designed with a grid pattern, featuring east-west streets like this one and cardines (cardos), the north-south streets that intersected them. The layout was very orderly, with the Decumanus Maximus serving as the main thoroughfare running through the city up to the Sarnus Gate, reaching the boundary with the countryside and the river.

The Pompeian decumanus started just outside the Porta Sarno (Sarnus Gate) in the east and ran westwards for a length of about nine hundred meters, interrupted by the forum for about forty meters and then continues west until it reaches just outside the Porta Marina. Total length of the decumanus maximus at Pompeii is around 1060 meters (excluding the width of the forum).

circa 10 CE

Decumanus of Gerasa
The decumanus of ancient Roman period Gerasa

circa 10 CE

Hippos Decumanus
The decumanus maximus of ancient Hippos is exposed up to a length of some 270 meters, starting with the Roman period forum in the west.

circa 10 CE

Decumanus Maximus at Lepcis Magna

circa 10 CE

Ostia Antica Decumanus

circa 10 CE

Timgad Decumanus
The Timgad decumanus originally ran east-west for a length of approx 320 meters, starting at the eastern gate and ending at the Arch of Trajan. However, after the expansion of the city, the decumanus of Thamugadi continued for another 350 meters towards the north-west. The original stretch inside the square city was in a straight line, but the it bent towards the north-west and terminated at the north-western gate. The entire length of the Timgad decumanus stretched for some 670 meters. The cardo maximus branched off from the decumanus at the at 173 meters mark from the east.

circa 10 CE

Battus Street (Cyrene)
Named after the founder and the first king of the ancient Greek colony of Cyrene.