Great Colonnade at Palmyra The western colonnade was the first section to be built. Inscriptions found on some columns confirm that works started before 158 CE. The straight avenue ran in northwest-southeast direction and stretched for , the longest of the three sectors. The main avenue's width was while the side streets were in width. The colonnade's western terminus, the West Gate, was built in the late second-century CE. The avenue also connected in a right angle to the Transverse Colonnade which stretched to the Damascus Gate in the south. The eastern sector of the Great Colonnade started at the Monumental Arch and stretched
Great Colonnade at Apamea of the second century the city was completely rebuilt, starting with the Great Colonnade. The colonnade was aligned along the north-south axis, making up the city's "cardo maximus" under the Romans. Starting at the city's north gate, the colonnade ran in an uninterrupted straight line for almost to the south gate. The northern third of the colonnade's stretch is marked by a monumental votive column that stood opposite the baths. The southern third, at around , is marked by the intersection with the city's main east-west axis, or the "decumanus maximus". Two triple arches were built into the Great Colonnade