Damascus Straight Street

The Damascus Straight Street c. 1900

The Street Called Straight in the New Testament, or Damascus Straight Street (Greek: την ρυμην την καλουμενην ευθειαν, Latin: Via Recta, Arabic: الشارع المستقيم‎‎ Al-Shāri` al-Mustaqīm) is the Roman street (Decumanus Maximus) which runs from east to west in the old city of Damascus, Syria. It was visited by Paul the Apostle as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 9:11).

According to the King James Version of the English bible:

"And the Lord said unto him (i.e. Ananias), Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth".

During the Greek period in Damascus, the city was re-designed by Hippodamus, who gave the city a grid structure. The longest of these streets, 1,500 metres in length across the city, was called Straight Street.

The western half of the street, including the Midhat Pasha Souq, is now named "Midhat Pasha Street", while the eastern half, leading to the Bab Sharqi gate is named "Bab Sharqi Street".

Midhat Pasha Souq  Midhat Pasha Street  Bab Sharqi Street  Roman triumphal arch on Damascus Straight Street  Bab Sharqi