Unfinished business: What caused the Sudden Cessation of the construction works during the Foundation of Aelia Capitolina?

This paper deals with a phenomenon that characterizes, as far as the archaeological evidence is telling, the monumental urban foundation of Aelia Capitolina. In several places throughout the city, e.g., in the Eastern and Western Cardines and the Northern City Gate, the archaeological finds indicate a sudden cessation of construction, after the bulk of work has already been carried out. It should be emphasized that although the construction ceased -the buildings, or streets in question, were put to use and in some cases continued to be used for centuries; however, the final stages of the construction and embellishment did not take place, and therefore their appearance was of an unfinished project, turning the city into less embellished and monumental compared to other cities of the Roman East.