The Pons Aemilius (Aemilian Bridge, Ponte Emilio), or the Ponte Rotto (the broken bridge), originally built in the 2nd century BCE, is the oldest Roman stone bridge in the city of ancient Rome. During antiquity it spanned the river Tiber, connecting the Roman cattle market (Forum Boarium), on the east with Trastevere on the west.
Preceded by a wooden version, it was rebuilt in stone in the 2nd century BCE. Today only a single arch in the center of the river Tiber is all that remains, giving the bridge its name current Italian name Ponte Rotto (literally meaning the "broken bridge"). Rebuilt several times over the centuries, the current remains date back the second half of the sixteenth century CE, to the reign of Pope Gregory XIII (Circa 1572-1585 CE).
circa
Republican Rome
According to Titus Livius, originally a (wooden) bridge in the same location as the Pons Aemilius in 192 BCE. The oldest piers of the bridge were probably laid when the Via Aurelia was constructed in the mid-2nd century BCE. The first stone bridge was constructed by Censor Marcus Fulvius Nobilior several years after that, in 179 BC[2] (although it was not completed until 151 BC).[3] The bridge's piers date from this early period, although its arches were constructed by Scipio Aemilianus and L. Mummius in 142 BC.
Roman Empire
The bridge kept its place for several hundred years, although it was repaired and rebuilt both by Augustus, and later by Emperor Probus in 280 CE.
Post Roman Empire Period
After the collapse of the Roman Empire in 476 CE, the bridge was damaged several times by floods, with each flood taking a greater and greater toll on the overall structure. It was first severely damaged in 1230, after which it was rebuilt by Pope Gregory XI. Later, the bridge was more seriously damaged by the flood of 1557, but again was later rebuilt by Pope Gregory XIII; the remnants of the bridge today still bear Latin inscriptions detailing Gregory XIII's renovation of the bridge. Finally, floods in 1575 and 1598 CE carried the eastern half away, resulting in its abandonment as a functioning bridge for several centuries.
For many years, it was used as a fishing pier. In 1853 CE, Pope Pius IX had the remnants of the bridge connected to the mainland via an iron footbridge, but the heavy metal weakened the structural integrity of the stone. The remaining half was demolished in 1887 CE to make room for the Ponte Palatino, leaving behind only one arch that remains to this day.
circa
It spanned the Tiber with six main piers supporting stone arches. The remains of the arch still bear the bas-reliefs with dragons that recall the papal coat of arms.
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The Madain Project is an online archive of Abrahamic History and Archaeology.
Abrahamic History & Archaeology is the study of history and archaeology with respect to the three Abrahamic Faiths without considering the religious and theological aspects. The goal of Abrahamic History is to understand how and why the religious doctrines and behaviours have evlovled and changed over time. Searching for patterns in the evolution of significant cultural events such as the development of farming, the emergence of cities, or the collapse of major civilizations for clues of why and how these have influenced the three major Abrahamic religions.
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