Pons Aemilius

41.88931611111112.47953Koordinaten: 41 ° 53 ' 21.5 " N, 12 ° 28' 46.3 " E

F1

Via Aurelia, Via later Portuensis

Tiber

The Pons Aemilius ( Italian: Ponte Emilio ) is the oldest known stone bridge in Rome in 174 BC and led across the Tiber River. Today is her only one arc obtained which is not connected to the shore and is no longer accessible. It contributes therefore now called Ponte Rotto ( Italian " Broken Bridge "). The bridge was the beginning of the Via Aurelia and the Via Portuensis later that led to the Portus Romae at the mouth of the Tiber. The Cloaca Maxima opens a few meters below the bridge into the Tiber.

Specifications

The bridge was their main phase of flat stone arches on six pillars. Five of the piers founded in the river bed, one on the shore. The spandrels are decorated with reliefs, through lateral arch openings below the roadway sculptures are mounted.

Architectural History

Responsible for the construction of the Pons Aemilius Lepidus were the censors Marcus Aemilius and Fulvius Nobilior Marcus. In a first phase consisted of only the bridge piers of stone, while the entire superstructure was built of wood. Even almost 30 years later, in 142 BC, the bridge was fitted under the censors Scipio Aemilianus and Lucius Mummius also with stone arches. Since its construction, the vaulting had improved with voussoirs. The bridge was first thoroughly restored in the 1st century AD. Responsible for the restoration was Augustus, who served as Pontifex Maximus also for the maintenance of bridges. At this time, the bridge was renamed in Pons Maximus, because it was the largest bridge of Rome at that time.

The water pressure on the bridge increased in the post-classical period: The flow rate of the Tiber had greatly increased by the widening of the Tiber Island and the thereby resulting narrowing the riverbed. Therefore, there was a significant wear of the bridge. Several collapses were the result, and despite numerous attempts at restoration, the bridge on 24 December 1598 largely destroyed: a flood swept away two piers and three arches. The consequence of this was that it only from the left bank of could be entered. Since 1885 only is a single arch in mid-river.

Today leads directly next to the Pons Aemilius the Ponte Palatino over the Tiber, can best be visited from which the Ponte Rotto.

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