Pons Aemilius

The Pons Aemilius (today Ponte Rotto) is the oldest Roman stone bridge in Rome, Italy. Preceded by a wooden version, it was stone since the 1st century BC. Once spanning across the Tiber (connecting the Forum Boarium with Trastevere), a single arch in mid-river is all that remains today, lending the bridge the name "Ponte rotto" ('Broken bridge').

The oldest piers of the bridge was probably laid when the Via Aurelia was constructed in the mid-3rd century BC. Claridge, Amanda (1998). "Rome: An Oxford Archaeological Guide". Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.] Initially constructed in 179 BC with stone pillars and a wooden superstructure, the bridge was fitted in 142 BC wholly with six stone arches. In 12 BC, Augustus completely restored the bridge with a tuff and concrete core.

Damaged and repaired in several occasions, the bridge was defunct by 1598, when its eastern half was carried away. The remaining half was demolished in the 1880s, leaving behind only one arch.

References

*cite book|first=Colin |last=O'Connor|title= Roman Bridges|publisher= Cambridge Univ. Press|year=1994|id=ISBN 0-521-39326-4

See also

* Roman bridge
* List of Roman bridges

External links

*
* [http://www.iath.virginia.edu/rome/Journal2TaylorNew.pdf The Waters of Rome: Tiber River Bridges and the Development of the Ancient City of Rome]
* [http://traianus.rediris.es/ Traianus] - Technical investigation of Roman public works