Great Colonnade at Apamea, Roman colonnade in Orontes River Valley, Syria.
The Great Colonnade at Apamea is a Roman row of limestone columns in the Orontes River Valley in Syria. The structure stretches over a long distance with columns of about 9 meters high and features triple arches at major crossroads.
After the earthquake of 115 CE, Emperor Trajan ordered the reconstruction of the colonnade, transforming it into a grand Roman structure. This rebuilding period marked a turning point in the city's development.
The colonnade formed the heart of city life in Apamea, where traders set up stalls between the columns and people moved through for shopping and social gatherings.
Visitors can observe over 400 standing columns along the ancient street that stretches across a considerable length and shows original limestone paving blocks. The row of columns offers different viewpoints for exploring the Roman structure.
The colonnade shows different column styles, some straight and others with spiral fluting, revealing different construction phases during the 2nd century. These variations tell the story of gradual building over several decades.
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