Roman bridge 300109 224898300 2008-07-10T22:14:09Z Gun Powder Ma 2146750 add link to List of Roman bridges [[Image:Bridge Alcantara.JPG|thumb|The [[Alcántara Bridge]], a masterpiece of ancient bridge bulding]] [[Image:PuenteromanoriveraTrebejana.JPG|thumb|Puente de Segura, early 2nd century]] [[Image:El puente romano y la alcazaba.jpg|thumb|Roman bridge and Moorish [[alcazaba]] at [[Mérida, Spain]]]] :''For a list of all known Roman bridges, see [[List of Roman bridges]]'' :''For the railway station in [[Wales]], see [[Roman Bridge railway station]]'' '''Roman bridges''', built by [[Ancient Rome|ancient Romans]], were the first large and lasting bridges built. Roman bridges were built with stone and had the [[arch]] as its basic structure. Most utilized concrete as well. Built in [[142 BC]], the [[Pons Aemilius]], later named ''Ponte Rotto'' (broken bridge) is the oldest Roman stone bridge in Rome, Italy. The biggest Roman bridge was [[Trajan's bridge]] over the lower Danube, constructed by [[Apollodorus of Damascus]], which remained for over a millennium the longest bridge to have been built both in terms of overall and span length. They were most of the time at-least 60 ft above the body of water. The longest Roman stone arch was probably [[Severan Bridge]] of 34 m, but there are [[Puente del Diablo (Martorell)|indications]] of longer arches. An example of temporary military bridge construction are the two [[Caesar's Rhine bridges]]. ==Usual characteristics of Roman Bridges== * Many are more than 5 meters wide * Most of them slope slightly * Many have [[Rustication_%28architecture%29|rustic work]] * The stonework has alternating stretcher and header courses ; i.e. one layer of rectangular stones is laid lengthwise, and the next layer has the ends facing outwards * Stones linked with dovetail joints or metal bars * Indents in the stones for gripping tools to hold onto (Source [http://traianus.rediris.es/ Traianus] - An endeavour to identify Roman Bridges built in former [[Hispania]]) == Gallery == <gallery> Image:Trier-Römerbrücke.01.jpg|[[Römerbrücke (Trier)|Römerbrücke]] in Trier, Germany Image:Guadalquivir Mezquita.JPG|Puente Romano in [[Cordoba]], Spain Image:The Pont Julien (Julian bridge) France, view from west, by Rosier.jpg|[[Pont Julien]] in Apt, France Image:Pont Vaison la Romaine.jpg|The [[Roman Bridge (Vaison-la-Romaine)|Roman Bridge in Vaison-la-Romaine]], France Image:Engelsbruecke.jpg|[[Ponte Sant'Angelo]] in Rome, Italy Image:Ponte Milvio-side view-antmoose.jpg|[[Ponte Milvio]] in Rome, Italy Image:Pons Fabricius.jpg|[[Pons Fabricius]] in Rome, Italy Image:Ponte Pietra a Verona.jpg|[[Ponte di Pietra]] in Verona, Italy Image:Ponte Di Badia Vulci.jpg|Ponte dell'Abbadia, Italy Image:Pont-Saint-Martin-Ponte-DSCF8380.JPG|[[Pont-Saint-Martin Bridge]], Italy Image:Bridge near Limyra. Pic 02.jpg|Segmental arch [[Bridge near Limyra|Bridge near Limyra]], Turkey Image:SeveranBridge.jpg|[[Severan Bridge]], Turkey </gallery> == See also == *[[List of Roman bridges]] *[[Bridges in Rome|Bridges in city of Rome]] *[[Roman architecture]] *[[Roman engineering]] *[[Roman technology]] == References == * Piero Gazzola, "Ponti romani. Contributo ad un indice sistematico con studio critico bibliografico", Vol. Ponti romani 2, Florence 1963 * Colin O'Connor, "Roman Bridges", Cambridge Univ. Press (1994) ISBN 0-521-39326-4 == External links == {{Commons|Category:Ancient Roman bridges|Roman bridges}} * [http://traianus.rediris.es/ Traianus] - Technical investigation of Roman public works * [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://www.livius.org/pn-po/pontes_longi/pontes_longi.html Livius.org: Pontes longi] - Roman bog bridges [[Category:Ancient Roman architecture]] [[Category:Roman bridges| ]] {{Ancient Tiber Bridges}} {{Ancient-Rome-stub}} [[de: Kategorie:Römische_Brücke]]