Damascus: Straight Street and the Temple of Jupiter
The Roman city grid of Acts 9 and the great temple that became the Umayyad Mosque
Found 1921 — Standing monuments studied by Carl Watzinger and Karl Wulzinger (Damaskus, die antike Stadt, 1921) and Jean Sauvaget (1949); soundings by the Syrian Directorate General of Antiquities; no large-scale excavation of the ancient city has been possible
Where Old City of Damascus (Syria)
Dates from c. 1000 BCE – 715 CE · Aramean – Roman – Umayyad (standing remains Roman, 1st c. BCE – 4th c. CE) · Aram-Damascus of the kings; Paul's conversion and escape
Now at In situ; Old City of Damascus is a UNESCO site (1979); finds in the National Museum of Damascus
How Damascus: Straight Street and the Temple of Jupiter was found
Damascus has been continuously inhabited, so its Iron Age is known only from scattered finds. What survives above ground is Roman: the east gate (Bab Sharqi) and the Roman arch on the Via Recta ('Straight Street', Suq Midhat Pasha), and the monumental temenos walls and propylaea of the Temple of Jupiter Damascenus, built over the Aramean temple of Hadad. Theodosius turned the temple into the cathedral of John the Baptist (c. 391); al-Walid I built the Umayyad Mosque inside its walls (705–715), keeping the shrine of John's head.
What it is
The 1.5-km Via Recta still runs east–west across the Old City on the Roman decumanus, with a Roman gate at its east end and a triple arch mid-way. The Jupiter temple's outer precinct measured about 385 by 305 m; its inner enclosure wall, with corner towers and carved gates, is now the mosque's outer wall, and the western propylaeum still stands in the Hamidiyeh souq.
Why it matters for the Bible
Damascus is named more than sixty times in Scripture — the capital of Israel's rival Aram, Naaman's home, and the goal of Paul's journey when Yeshua confronted him. Acts sends Ananias to 'the street called Straight', and the Roman street of that name is still there; Paul then escaped Aretas's guards over the wall in a basket, and the Roman walls and gates mark where. The temple precinct also matters for 2 Kings 5: Naaman's 'house of Rimmon' was the Hadad temple on this very spot, later Jupiter's, later the church of John the Baptist.
The Hebrew word: dah-MEH-sek
דַּמֶּשֶׂק
דַּמֶּשֶׂק is pronounced dah-MEH-sek and means Damascus — capital of Aram; Hebrew 'Dammesek' (Strong's H1834).
People this discovery connects to
- Paul (Sha'ul) — שָׁאוּל (shah-OOL) — asked for
- Ananias (Chananyah) — חֲנַנְיָה (cha-nan-YAH) — YHVH is gracious
- Naaman — נַעֲמָן (na-ah-MAHN) — pleasantness
Places
- Damascus — דַּמֶּשֶׂק (dah-MEH-sek) — uncertain; ancient Dimashqa
Events
Paul's conversion on the Damascus road · Paul's escape in a basket · Naaman's healing and the house of Rimmon · Wars of Israel and Aram-Damascus
Damascus: Straight Street and the Temple of Jupiter in Scripture
Genesis 14:15 First mention of Damascus in Scripture.
2 Kings 5:18 Naaman must bow in 'the house of Rimmon' — the temple of Hadad-Rimmon whose Roman successor's walls enclose the Umayyad Mosque.
Acts 9:11 Ananias is sent to 'the street called Straight'; the Roman Via Recta still crosses the Old City.
Questions people ask
What is Damascus: Straight Street and the Temple of Jupiter?
The 1.5-km Via Recta still runs east–west across the Old City on the Roman decumanus, with a Roman gate at its east end and a triple arch mid-way. The Jupiter temple's outer precinct measured about 385 by 305 m; its inner enclosure wall, with corner towers and carved gates, is now the mosque's outer wall, and the western propylaeum still stands in the Hamidiyeh souq.
When was Damascus: Straight Street and the Temple of Jupiter discovered?
It was found in 1921 by Standing monuments studied by Carl Watzinger and Karl Wulzinger (Damaskus, die antike Stadt, 1921) and Jean Sauvaget (1949); soundings by the Syrian Directorate General of Antiquities; no large-scale excavation of the ancient city has been possible, at Old City of Damascus.
Where is Damascus: Straight Street and the Temple of Jupiter today?
In situ; Old City of Damascus is a UNESCO site (1979); finds in the National Museum of Damascus.
Which Bible verses does Damascus: Straight Street and the Temple of Jupiter relate to?
Genesis 14:15, 2 Kings 5:18, Acts 9:11.
Related discoveries
- דֶּרֶךְVia Egnatia and the Port of NeapolisThe Roman highway and harbour that carried the Good News into Europe
- תַּרְשִׁישׁTarsus: The Roman Road and Cleopatra's GatePaved street and city gate of Paul's 'no mean city'
- בֵּימָהGallio Inscription (Delphi)Letter of Emperor Claudius naming Gallio proconsul of Achaia — the anchor date for Paul's ministry
- מָקוֹם תְּפִלָּהLydia's Baptism Site on the Gangites (Zygaktis) RiverThe riverside 'place of prayer' outside Philippi where Europe's first recorded believer was immersed
- עֹגֶןMalta: St Paul's Bay and the Roman Anchor ClaimsThe traditional landing site and lead anchor stocks said to be from Paul's ship — unproven
- עַכּוֹAcco / Ptolemais (Tel Akko)The Canaanite–Phoenician port Asher never took, where Paul spent a day with the believers
Sources
- Wikipedia, 'Umayyad Mosque' and 'Straight Street'
- Watzinger, C. & Wulzinger, K., Damaskus, die antike Stadt (1921)
- Burns, R., Damascus: A History (Routledge, 2005)
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